Your Union has continued to seek further protections for members as we navigate through uncharted territory in relation to the emerging worldwide Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. These conversations between your Union and all major employer groups who employ our members are ongoing.
In particular, a considerable amount of engagement with Australia Post has occurred where we have continued our call for a special leave policy to maximise flexibility for our members who may become affected by the virus – either directly, or indirectly.
This afternoon we welcomed the release of Australia Post’s pandemic leave policy.
The policy provides members, including those working under casual and fixed-term arrangements, with up to 2 weeks’ special leave, in addition to their sick leave and annual recreation leave entitlements. In summary, the scenarios in which the leave can be accessed include where an employee:
- Is required to self-isolate in accordance with Federal or State/Territory health and quarantine requirements due to travel to a declared country or arriving in Australia from 16 March 2020, or close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19, and the person is unable to work from home;
- Has been diagnosed with COVID-19;
- Is required to provide care or support to an immediate family member or member of the employee’s household in circumstances where that member:
(a) Is diagnosed with COVID-19; or
(b) Is required to self-isolate in circumstances set out in (1) above; - Is unable to attend work due to the closure of the employee’s workplace, Australia Post is unable to provide duties at an alternate workplace and the employee is unable to work from home.
There has been a massive effort behind the scene for Australia Post to commit to such a policy over the past week. And whilst we do welcome the commitment, we believe there is room for improvement – particularly for carers of school-aged children who may be excused from school due to closures, carers of confirmed-cases and also around social distancing provisions for those members most at risk of developing serious complications from the virus, including the elderly, those suffering from chronic illness and the immune compromised.
In fairness, however, Australia Post has made it abundantly clear that they see this policy as one that can, and will, evolve as the full effect of the pandemic emerge. Your Union will not stop seeking the best possible arrangements to protect the health and safety of our members.
A full copy of the policy (updated 2 April 2020) can be downloaded here: https://cwucentral.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Pandemic-COVID-19-Leave-Policy-FINAL-1.4.20.pdf
Members are strongly urged to make themselves familiar with the terms of the current policy, including the example scenarios contained within the policy, and be prepared.
Should you require any further information, please contact Branch Assistant Secretary Peter Chaloner or Branch Officials Cade Anderson, Gil Enzon, Elly Huttly, Phil Kessey, TK Ly, Liam Murphy, Peter O’Connell, Dharmpal Singh or Dennis Williams on (02) 9893 7822.
Further information on COVID-19 is available at the Department of Health’s website at: https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert
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