The CPSU has written to Comcare, the Commonwealth’s WHS
Regulator, seeking their assistance with the WHS issues in Archives and
Library.
The CPSU is concerned that despite raising the red flag on Archives and
Library WHS issues on 6 April, many of those issues are still not resolved
six months later.
We also note that content maker uptake of data descriptors - a significant
contributor to the WHS problems in the area, is still nowhere near the level
P&T management said it would during major change consultation last year.
Involving Comcare is a significant step and one that we hope will help
shift the ABC management’s WHS culture to one that is more proactive
and responsive to the needs of its workers.
Under Section 82 of the Work Health and Safety Act (WHS Act), a Comcare
inspector has the authority to assist the parties to resolve health and
safety issues, and to decide how the issues will be resolved. Mediation is
generally the first step.
CPSU member meetings for Archives and Library members will be scheduled
shortly. In the meantime, P&T members are welcome to contact me
directly if you would like to know more.
A summary of the events leading to the CPSU’s decision to involve Comcare
are included below for your reference.
ABC Archives & Library WHS
Steps taken by CPSU members to resolve the issues:
In the six months prior to April 2023 i.e., when P&T management were
implementing the Archives and Library restructure and changes to workflows,
many CPSU members raised various WHS concerns with the management to no
avail.
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6 April
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CPSUwriteto P&T
Management seeking a meeting to discuss WHS concerns in
Archives & Library (A&L). No acknowledgement or
response from management received.
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20 April
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CPSU write to management to follow up.
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26 April
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Management response diminishing concerns. No meeting
offered. Further CPSU email sent seeking meeting.
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10 May
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Meeting with P&T managers and ABC People. Management
cannot confirm if or what WHS risk management they have
undertaken since the implementation of their restructure.
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12 May
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CPSU send courtesy email to P&T manager advising WHS
issues to be escalated.
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12 May
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CPSU send Issues Resolution Notice to ABC’s WHS Director
detailing actions required to resolve concerns and seeking a
meeting.
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25 May
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CPSU and ABC parties meet. WHS commit to run consultation
meetings with Archives and Library teams.
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1 June
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WHS management send letter to CPSU confirming they will
run consultation meetings with Archives and Library teams.
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8 June
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CPSU makes second request for Archives and Library risk
management and control measures details, and this time asks
they are provided by 15 June.
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22 June
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WHS management provide requested information.
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July
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No updates or communication from ABC management on steps
or work it is doing to resolve the issues.
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August
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No updates or communication from ABC management on steps
or work it is doing to resolve the issues.
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29 August
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CPSU write to WHS management seeking an urgent update on
issues resolution work done to date.
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13 September
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Management letter confirms 5 team consultation meetings
held since our meeting in May - 11 Jul: CN Team, 13 Jul: QA
Team, 19 Jul: ICCA Team, 17 Aug: CN Team, 18 Aug: CN
Team. No other outcomes communicated.
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19 September
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CPSU seeks assistance of Comcare.
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