We have written to Ashley Youth Detention Centre management to request all workers be provided a copy of all policies and procedures that apply to you at work as a matter of priority. We have also requested an urgent meeting with management and your union delegates to discuss body worn cameras, staffing ratios, support and procedures for when a worker gets suspended and a critical incident response and follow up procedure. We’ll keep you updated about any outcomes from those discussions when they happen.
At our membership meeting, there were concerns raised about safety, breaks and getting a copy of the Award and Agreement that covers all of your working conditions.
Safety: You have every right to a safe workplace. If you know that something you’ve been asked to do is unsafe you have every right to refuse to undertake any duty that is clearly unsafe. You also have the right to see and be consulted on any risk assessment that relates to any particular duty or any particular young person you’re working with. You will have our full support if any action is attempted to be taken or if you get treated differently because you raise a safety concern. If in doubt, ask your union delegate, a colleague or call HACSU assist for advice.
Meal Breaks: Meal breaks are an Award entitlement. If you are a shift worker, it will depend on the length of your shift as to what break you’re entitled to. Meal breaks for shift workers are paid breaks. If you’re doing 12-hour shifts, you’re entitled to 2 X 20-minute meal breaks. If you’re doing an 8-hour shift, you’re entitled to 1 X 25-minute meal break. If you do not get a break or only get one break, you are entitled to claim the missed break time as overtime.
If you’re a day worker, you’re entitled to an unpaid meal break of no more than 1 hour and no day worker is required to work more than 5 hours without a meal break. Most day workers are entitled to a 10-minute morning tea break too, but this is usually through custom and practice and is not in the Award or the Agreement.
Award and Agreement: You’re covered by an Award and an Agreement. Your Award is the Health and Human Services Award. You can access the latest version of the award here.
You’re also covered by the Public Sector Union Wages Agreement or PSUWA. That’s available here.
The Award is the foundation of all of the conditions and entitlements for you when you’re at work and the Agreement is what is negotiated every 3 years to give added benefits and wage increases. No policy or procedure can be implemented if they’re not consistent with the Award and Agreement.
We’re keen to make sure workers at Ashley don’t continue to be a football for bureaucrats and politicians, and that starts with you making sure you’re involved and knowing your rights as best you can when doing the thankless and unenviable job that you do.
Please know that we’re here to support you, no matter what.
For questions or more information, please get in touch with us via HACSUassist via 1300 880 032 or email: [email protected]