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Standing up to your manager about your workplace rights is never easy. But when you do it with the support of your team and everyone is in the same boat, the task can be a little less daunting.

That’s precisely what a team of Westpac engineers did recently when their roles were moved down a level without adequate consultation. The change was the result of a restructure, which saw four level 3 engineers placed into a team of level 2 operational staff.

During the consultation period, employees were initially told that the nature of their work wouldn't change. However, that message quickly changed once the consultation period ended and they were required to perform operational work. Concerningly, they were also required to work an on-call roster, which clashed with family and personal commitments.

While the pay was the same, the move was, essentially, a demotion. FSU members felt misled and believed Westpac had failed to adequately consult, particularly around the on-call roster.

Moreover, they felt the process was a tactic to pressure them to resign rather than offer them a full redundancy package.

Members stand together to win

After getting together to discuss what they should do about it, the team organised a meeting with their manager.

They all determined that the manager’s response was inadequate, so they agreed to escalate the matter to their director. After organising the meeting, they also reached out to their FSU Delegate, who agreed to attend the meeting to support his colleagues.

Before the meeting could take place, however, the manager told the team that they had reconsidered the arrangement, and they would not be required to work the on-call roster.

They would also be able to continue performing their usual level 3 duties.

FSU member and Westpac delegate Stephen Clothier said the ordeal demonstrated the power that union members have when they act together.

“My advice for anyone who’s in a situation where they’re being told to do something that doesn’t seem fair is to speak to your manager one on one in the first instance,” Stephen said.

“If that fails, speak to the rest of your team, band together, and speak to your union.

“If you’ve got enough people to form a group, make sure they are all members and let your employer know that the union is across your issue. Otherwise you don’t have a chance of changing anything.

“The union is there to sit down and negotiate and make sure everything is done correctly, fairly and justly. Once the union gets involved, decision-makers might just second-guess themselves.”

It’s a lesson for all FSU members about the importance of standing together – and the influence we have when workers collectively question the fairness of a poor management decision.