Your union is seeking commitments from employers that they will uphold their responsibility to provide a safe workplace during the coronavirus pandemic. We are also seeking protections for FSU members affected by the virus, like special paid leave for anyone required to self-isolate, or who is unable to work, as a result of the pandemic.
The union has developed and sent what we consider to be a minimum set of expectations to employers in our industry.
It is our view that employers should:
- Provide access to special paid leave for employees required to self-isolate, or who cannot work due to the impact of the pandemic. This should be provided in line with government recommendations for quarantine and should include those with caring responsibilities.
- Provide access to special paid leave for those engaged on a casual, labour hire, or fixed term contract basis. There is a significant public health risk where workers without access to paid leave must choose between forgoing income and self-isolating once they become symptomatic. In the absence of a Governmental solution the responsibility falls to us to mitigate this unacceptable risk.
- Not require employees to use or exhaust sick/carer’s/personal leave before providing access to special leave.
- Provide workforce with clear advice regarding their workplace’s response to coronavirus.
- Suspend all performance/sales targets effective immediately.
- Provide employees with appropriate protective equipment, prioritising those with customer facing/cash handling roles.
You can read the full letter, check if your employer has implemented these measures, and add your voice in support of our framework here.
(https://actionnetwork.org/forms/fsu-covid19/)
The FSU have also joined with all Australian unions in calling for the Government to provide two weeks paid special leave to help all workers affected by COVID-19; please sign that petition here.
(www.megaphone.org.au/petitions/coronovirus-support-paid-sick-leave-for-casual-workers)
We have further COVID-19 information and FAQs available online here.
(www.fsunion.org.au/coronavirus-info)
The need for solidarity has never been more apparent, not just as a union, but as a nation. As an FSU member you have the support of thousands of other finance sector workers across Australia.
In Unity,
Julia Angrisano
Contact Details
Finance Sector Union
Ph: 1300 366 378
fsuinfo@fsunion.org.au
