Together members employed in the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries have voted to support an employer mandate for COVID-19 vaccinations, with over 76% of members who participated in the ballot supporting the mandate. Together delegates met on Friday 28 January to consider the outcomes of the member ballot and also the other feedback from Together members. Together delegates and officials will meet with the employer on Tuesday 1 February to provide the union's response to the employer's draft policy. The position of Together was that the proposed policy was complex in terms of who was covered and that a simpler mandate policy with greater scope for exemptions would be easier for staff to understand and for the employer to implement, while still achieving the broader policy objective of a safer workplace through a vaccinated workforce. As we know, vaccinations are only part of the workplace health and safety response to COVID-19. We raised ongoing consultation on workplace health and safety including working from home and rapid antigen tests. Union members are taking the lead in protecting the workplace. Ask your colleagues to join the union today.
