NSW Budget 2015
NSW Budget – What does it mean for ASU members? Our sector, our communities, the people we support?
Most experts agree that this year’s NSW Government budget does not do enough to address housing stress in NSW.
There is NO money for the $1 billion infrastructure fund for social housing that NCOSS, Infrastructure NSW and the Government announced before the election. As the ASU noted at the time, no money was attached to that MOU, nor is any money allocated to it in this budget – the closest thing to a commitment is the assurance that “planning is underway to develop a new social and affordable housing fund, to unlock approximately $1 billion of new investment.”
Despite the inclusion of a minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault in Cabinet, it is disappointing to see no new money allocated to the prevention of domestic violence in NSW and no money at all for the prevention of rape and sexual assault.
Update: June 2015
Canon:
It’s time to start talking about the next Canon agreement. Canon members have already completed a survey about everything that is important to them and we expect negotiations are just around the corner. The next step is to create the Log of Claims. ASU delegates Hilton McKenna and Marcel Naidoo will be talking with members to get the Log endorsed and we’ll be ready to go.
CSG:
After a lengthy stall in the process the ASU has recommenced negotiations with CSG. Delegate Mario Manzatti has been working hard to represent members in what has been a long frustrating process.
A lot of Techs are already on the Canon 2009 agreement and we think it would be unfair to have conditions that are anything less than this.
Week of Action: June 29 – July 3!
Funding cuts from the Federal Department of Social Services will come into effect after June 30 for many community services.
Join ASU members around Australia who will be speaking out against this loss in services to some of the most vulnerable in our communities.
Services affected include services providing emergency relief, carer respite, children youth & family services, community mental health, financial counselling.
Changes to the PDP
Sydney Water employees received an update from management about proposed amendments to the PDP review process. The ASU believes Sydney Water should not have sent this communication.
Stories from members
At House with No Steps, ASU delegates have been working collaboratively with managers to develop a new way of doing rosters where all workers get to have a genuine say in the development of their roster and ensure that all rosters are compliant with best practice standards and entitlements about breaks, shift length and appropriate penalty rates.
Congratulations to all ASU members who have worked on this project over the last few months.
Your new professional voice
All members should have received in the mail by now their membership cards to the Australian College of Community and Disability Practitioners (the ACCDP).
The fight goes on! We will win!
Over summer and in the lead up to the recent State Election many members were actively involved in the ASU Save Our Local Community Services campaign.
This campaign is to resist the cuts to community services funding at a state and federal level – and to fight for a better way of funding community services that doesn’t include competitive tendering or allow for-profit organisations to make money from the provision of essential community services.
Paid Domestic Violence Leave
Did you know that the ASU was one of the first unions in Australia to pursue paid Domestic Violence Leave in enterprise agreements as an entitlement for members at work?
Sadly we know that Domestic and Family Violence affects a significant number of women, in particular, and paid domestic violence leave is an important condition many ASU members have fought for to ensure that workers can be supported by their employer if they ever experience domestic violence.
Important Update on Salary Packaging - change is coming
In the recent Federal Budget, the Abbott Government described your salary sacrifice benefits as “excessive” and they have proposed to cap meal and entertainment benefits at $5000 per year. Now the Government is also reviewing all salary sacrificing arrangements for workers in not-for- profits as part of their tax reform white paper.
Your July Wage Increase – won by union members
Congratulations! On 1 July 2015, the minimum Modern Award pay rates for SACS members will go up by 2.5%! On 1 December, your pay will then increase again!