Union plans unique industrial action as enterprise bargaining negotiations stall
Bio-security staff with the federal Department of Agriculture are warning freight operators of delays at customs and clearing checkpoints next week.
Members of the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) are planning an unusual form of industrial action, as part of the ongoing bargaining over a new enterprise agreement.
They intend to increase the number of screenings and inspections of mail, cargo, and passengers, that could increase the expected wait times for people and articles involved.
The union has received membership endorsement for an unlimited number of bans on “adhering to the Department of Agriculture risk-return models, directions and policies for the screening of passengers, mail and cargo, resulting in a higher number of passengers and mail and cargo items being selected for screening”, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) confirms.
Along with increasing inspections, the union membership has endorsed plans to refuse overtime and some data entry tasks.
Union spokesman Julian Lee agrees it is unusual to see industrial action that involves an increase in visible work and productivity, but says the aim is to send a message without risking Australia’s bio-security.
“We don’t want to in any way endanger the wellbeing and economic welfare of the country,” Lee says.
“The action is aimed at management and the government; not at passengers and freight owners.”
Exact dates and times have not yet been confirmed, but Lee expects actions to take place during next week.
CPSU national secretary Nadine Flood says Department of Agriculture staff overwhelmingly voted in favour of industrial action, with 95 per cent of the recorded vote. She says current offers from the government are inadequate.
“Biosecurity officers are on the frontline every day monitoring what’s coming in and out of the country, protecting the food we eat and the goods that we export,” Flood says.
“They ensure Australia’s multi-billion agriculture industry is free from infestations, disease and plagues.
“These people do tough dirty work and the government proposes to reward them by cutting their take-home pay, cutting jobs and attacking their conditions.
“Taking industrial action is a last resort and members in Agriculture know the value of the work that they do. It’s a shame this government doesn’t.”