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.
