Together Branch Secretary Alex Scott speaks to public sector members about what real, meaningful consultation on vaccine policy looks like, and how union members can work together to create safer workplaces in 2022. This briefing was addressed to workers who have not yet been affected by the CHO's health directions mandating employee vaccination. In this Zoom briefing, Together Branch Secretary, Alex Scott discusses the following matters: 01:46 COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates 04:02 COVID Vaccination – Health Directives and Employer determined directives 09:20 Employer Directions 11:57 Where to next 13:45 What is the alternative – poor decisions, rushed consultation, rights compromised 16:48 A consistent approach across the public service 20:40 Vaccination Status 21:24 Consultation on Mandates 23:11 Together member survey 24:23 Timeframes 26:38 Supporting Individuals 27:51 Together Campaign – Safer Together View Together's full strategy and proposed consultation timeframe for employers who are not covered by a CHO vaccine mandate. Together holds regular video briefings for members across the public sector, on the COVID-19 response, and other important issues in your working life. Join your union today to stay informed, and be part of our campaign for safer workplaces in 2022.
On Monday 13th December, Together delegates met with employer representatives from across the Department of Justice and Attorney General (DJAG) and other justice portfolio agencies to establish a framework for consultation on a COVID-19 Vaccination Policy. The meeting was attended by representatives from the Together union office, along with delegates from: Blue Card Services Community Justice Services Magistrates Courts Electoral Commission of Queensland (ECQ) Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) Public Trustee of Queensland (PTQ) Management representatives were present from: Liquor, Gaming & Fair Trading Justice Services Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) OPG Legal Aid Queensland (LAQ) Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC) Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) PTQ ECQ Each work area or agency was asked to brief attendees on the context for their agency, outlining whether the CHO's health directions applied to any of their employees, or if they would impact staff in any way, and to advise of the proposed vaccination policy they would be putting forward for consultation. Most agencies were at early stages of planning around vaccinations and other workplace health and safety responses. Meeting attendees also discussed the timeframe for consultation endorsed by Together members for agencies where a CHO vaccine mandate does not apply. Read more about Together's proposal. As consultation on the DJAG COVID-19 Vaccination Policy continues, it's vital that workers have a real voice, to ensure a fair, consistent, and well-organised implementation process. Together members will be kept up to date with any developments as they occur. Join your union today to stay informed and have your say.
Following an announcement last Tuesday 30th November, Queensland's Chief Health Officer has issued the Health Direction for Workers in a High Risk Setting, which comes into effect today, 11th December. Vaccination will be mandatory for all staff in schools, correctional centres and youth detention centres, with the first dose required by 17th December, and the second by 23rd January 2022. View the Health Direction in full on Queensland Health's website. This latest mandate follows previous Chief Health Officer decisions regarding government owned galleries, museums, and libraries, disability workers, and other workgroups. These mandates will mean workers in many public sector departments must be vaccinated or vaccinated soon. Together members in those departments are in discussions with employers to ensure those mandates are rolled out fairly. Directors-General also have responsibility for making decisions about COVID-19 safety plans, including mandating vaccines. Your union will need to be prepared and have a position on mandated vaccinations for public sector members. There is a significant opportunity to work together with agencies to ensure that your workplaces are safe and fair as we see increased transmission in our communities, rather than just letting employers decide. When workers have a seat at the table to influence decisions, the outcomes are better for workers and for your communities. The pandemic has been a period of high stress, anxiety and increased isolation, our mental health has taken a hit. The conversation about workplace health and safety shouldn’t begin and end at mandatory vaccination. The impacts on mental health can’t be ignored in the response to COVID-19 in public sector workplaces. Now more than ever, workers need a collective voice on COVID-19 safety. Join your union today to ensure timely and meaningful consultation in your workplace.
Following a survey, public sector members under the Core agreement have endorsed a Together strategy to tackle COVID-19 in their workplaces in 2022. The survey showed that the majority of members support the following: A consistent approach across the public service. Supporting respectful conversations and mental health support in workplaces. Regular consultation meetings with Together members and management. Union members decide the union position on disclosure of vaccination status. Union members decide the union position on mandatory vaccination. It also showed that the overwhelming majority of Together members surveyed are vaccinated, and support vaccination mandates in their workplaces. You can learn more about Together's strategy to tackle COVID-19 in our workplaces here. Together members' experience has been that the more measured and timely consultation processes used in Queensland Health and the Queensland Police Service have been better processes than the rushed exercises in schools and corrections following the CHO mandates for those areas. That is why Together is suggesting a consistent approach across the remaining government departments in relation to the collection of data on current vaccination rates and to decisions about possible mandating of vaccinations in other parts of the public service. Vaccinations will not prevent the spread of COVID-19. We have demanded regular and meaningful consultation on all responses to the pandemic not just on the issue of mandating vaccinations. Irrespective of the decision about mandating or otherwise, our employers need to improve the consultation and communication with members about other measures that will need to be considered in 2022 depending on how far and fast the virus spreads in Queensland. We have also sought consistent and fair process for staff who are unable to vaccinated and Together will continue to protect the industrial rights of individual members at each stage of this process. To join public sector workers in speaking up for a fair, safe, and well-planned COVID-19 response for 2022, become a Together member today.
On Tuesday 7th December, Together representatives attended the Central Consultative Forum for public sector workers covered by the Core agreement, to propose a fair, consistent and well-organised approach to vaccination mandates across the public sector. Branch Secretary Alex Scott addressed key figures from Government about Together's view of the current circumstances in the public sector, and the challenges ahead in 2022. With some CHO mandates in place, and the potential for others to come, it's vital for all public sector employers to be planning their approach to vaccination requirements, to avoid a rushed and haphazard implementation. The implementation of the most recent CHO mandate in Schools and Corrections has shown how badly things can go wrong when employers have to scramble to ensure their workforce is vaccinated. Together representatives cautioned Departments against hesitating to make decisions about vaccination requirements because of a vocal minority who are vehemently opposed, and advocated for employers to ask staff to voluntarily disclose their vaccination status, to aid in assessing vaccination rates in the workforce. Finally, Together representatives proposed a consultation timeframe for public sector employers not covered by a CHO vaccination mandate, and committed to write to Directors-General with further details. You can view Together's proposed consultation timeframe here. To stand with your colleagues demanding timely and meaningful consultation on vaccination mandates, join your union today.
This Monday 13th December, following discussion at Together's branch conference, and the Central Consultative Forum for public sector workers covered by the Core agreement, Branch Secretary Alex Scott wrote to the Directors-General of most government departments seeking their commitment to timely and meaningful consultation with Together members about their plans for how to respond to the pandemic in 2022. We have seen the CHO mandate vaccinations in schools and corrections and employer mandates in Queensland Health and Queensland Police. We know that many other departments and agencies are at different stages of considering whether to introduce employer mandates for vaccinations for their staff. Following the survey of members last week, we know that the overwhelming majority of Together members are vaccinated and the majority of Together members support vaccination mandates in their workplaces. Our experience has been that the more measured and timely consultation processes used in Queensland Health and the Queensland Police Service have been better processes than the rushed exercises in Schools and Corrections following the CHO mandates for those areas. That is why Together is suggesting a consistent approach across the remaining government departments in relation to the collection of data on current vaccination rates and to decisions about possible mandating of vaccinations in other parts of the public service. Vaccinations will not prevent the spread of COVID-19. We have demanded regular and meaningful consultation on all responses to the pandemic not just on the issue of mandating vaccinations. Irrespective of the decision about mandating or otherwise, our employers need to improve the consultation and communication with members about other measures that will need to be considered in 2022 depending on how far and fast the virus spreads in Queensland. We have also sought consistent and fair process for staff who are unable to vaccinated and your union will continue to protect the industrial rights of individual members at each stage of this process. View Together's full proposal for a fair, safe, and well-organised approach to COVID-19 workplace health and safety in 2022.
Together's Branch Conference met on Monday 29th November, to review all members accomplished in 2021, and set the agenda for 2022. A key focus for public sector delegates was how to respond to COVID-19, vaccination mandates, and safety in the workplace. Branch Secretary Alex Scott spoke to delegates about the current circumstances in the public sector, and the challenges ahead in 2022. With some CHO mandates in place, and the potential for others to come, it's vital for all public sector employers to be planning their approach to vaccination requirements, to avoid a rushed and haphazard implementation. However, because of a vocal minority who are vehemently opposed to vaccination, Departments are hesitant to make decisions about vaccination requirements for their workforce - despite significant support from employees. Union members therefore have an opportunity to be a strong and decisive voice on this issue. Delegates reported that members strongly supported employers asking staff to voluntarily disclose their vaccination status, to aid employers in assessing vaccination rates in the workforce. Delegates also emphasised that COVID-19 workplace health and safety does not begin and end with vaccination mandates. They expressed their hope that workers could find a constructive and respectful way to move through the conversation around vaccines, so that energy can be devoted to other vital WHS considerations, such as social distancing, air filtration, and more. Conference delegates resolved to survey the broader membership on their support for the following: A consistent approach across the public service. Supporting respectful conversations and mental health support in workplaces. Regular consultation meetings with Together members and management. Union members decide the union position on disclosure of vaccination status. Union members decide the union position on mandatory vaccination. To have your say, become a Together member today.