(CPSU NSW) Economic Response to the Coronavirus

   

The Hon Josh Frydenberg MP

Treasurer

PO Box 6022

House of Representatives

Parliament House

Canberra ACT 2600

                                                                    By email: josh.freydenberg@treasury.gov.au

           

Dear Treasurer,

Re: Economic Response to the Coronavirus

The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU NSW) is writing on behalf its members employed as Professional Staff in Universities. The union is particularly concerned of the economic impact that travel restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 epidemic is having on universities.

The Government’s Economic Response to the Coronavirus released today recognised the significant effect that COVID-19 is having on the education sector. Despite this, there was no additional funding announced for the university sector. The CPSU NSW finds this omission to be extremely short-sighted, and seeks that the Federal Government urgently steps in to provide adequate additional funding to Universities experiencing, or likely to experience significant losses in revenue because of COVID-19.

Leading economists, international rating agencies and the industry’s peak commercial body, Universities Australia, have all raised the potential vulnerability the sector faces in any prolonged restriction on international student travel in response to the rapid spread of coronavirus, particularly in China.

Standard & Poors estimate Australian universities stand to forfeit around $3.1 billion in lost revenue. For example, the University of Sydney recently announced a $200 million financial short fall as a result of the travel restrictions.

Education is our third largest export. For decades Governments have pushed public universities to build business models based on expanding their international fee paying student numbers to supplement cuts in public funding.

Universities have been turned into businesses and in doing so exposed them to market vulnerability. Many are now either highly dependent on revenue from international students, or cash-strapped to the extent they can’t easily sustain a further decline in income. They have become among the most critical employers in our regions and generate enormous economic activity in other parts of the economy.

For these reasons the CPSU NSW seeks that the Federal Government urgently provides additional funding to the University sector.

Yours faithfully,

Stewart Little
State Branch Secretary

           March 2020

COVID-19 and its effect on your workplace conditions

Close

Web version  |  Unsubscribe Like Tweet Forward 12 March 2020 COVID-19 and its effect on your workplace conditions COVID-19 Update - March 2020 Dear Mark,  The PSA/CPSU NSW has been negotiating a range of benefits for workers affected by the current COVID-19 pandemic. The following describes conditions for people working in different sectors. NSW public sector and state-owned corporations The NSW Government has released a Premier’s Circular that establishes a number of key provisions to help manage the current COVID-19 pandemic at work. The circular includes the following provisions: Paid special leave of up to 20 days for people who need to be excluded from workplace/placed in quarantine Paid special leave of up to 20 days for people with caring responsibilities or who have transport disruptions (without needing to exhaust other forms of leave first) Paid special leave if the workplace is closed For people who are sick – they apply for sick leave as usual, if they exhaust sick leave they can apply for special leave Provision to work flexibly/remotely/at other locations where at all possible. We are still attempting to resolve issues regarding casual workers, who are placed in a difficult position if required to work but unwell, and the union is particularly concerned with “frontline casual workers” who may not be able to work from home. This circular should set the minimum standard for workers in the federal system, as described below. University sector The university sector has been particularly affected by the impact COVID-19 virus, with both revenue being affected and campuses closed. On 11 March 2019 both the Gold Coast and Lismore campuses of Southern Cross University closed due to COVID-19 concerns. The CPSU NSW was able to gain confirmation from the university that that all staff scheduled to work during this closure, including casuals, are to be paid for their rostered hours. Macquarie University has also agreed to pay casuals in the event of a close down. CPSU NSW officials have been consulting with other university administration and have been establishing supportive framework for university workers during this pandemic including for casual employees. The union’s industrial representatives will continue to consult with universities to maintain safety and support workers’ conditions. TAFE NSW The above Premier’s Circular also applies to TAFE NSW. The CPSU NSW will continue to consult with TAFE NSW to ensure the health and safety of our members. Disability, utilities, private prisons and other federal system employees These sectors are not immune from COVID-19 and are considered significant at- risk industries due to the nature of their clients and the essential services they deliver. The above circular should form the standard for supporting workers’ safety and industrial conditions via consultations that the union has commenced with your employer. Work health and safety As a declared pandemic, this is a health and safety issue for many workers. The PSA/CPSU NSW is meeting with your employer regularly to consult on establishing workplace safety controls that will assist you manage pandemic influenza safety at work. We will continue to do this and workers are encouraged to do this locally with management through the mechanisms available under the Work Health and Safety Act. Prevention is of course preferable, so reducing or eliminating close contact with public (and co-workers) is a recommended mechanism, as well as systematic cleaning of surfaces. The World Health Organisation has also published advice on how to get your workplace ready for COVID-19. It includes tips such as: Making sure workplaces are CLEAN AND HYGIENIC Promoting regular, thorough HAND-WASHING by employees, contractors and customers Promoting GOOD RESPIRATORY HYGIENE in the workplace Advising people to CONSULT TRAVEL ADVISORIES before business trips For places where COVID-19 is spreading in the community, asking people to STAY HOME FROM WORK if they have symptoms, even if they’re just a MILD COUGH, LOW-GRADE FEVER (37.3 degrees Celsius or more) or if they have taken medicines such as paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin, because these can mask symptoms. “Employers should start doing these things now, even if COVID-19 has not arrived in the communities where they operate,” the document says. If you are concerned that workplace prevention, travel warnings and isolation measures are not being adhered to please contact your employer. In the event that your employer does not act, contact your union to progress. Read more HERE. Visit NSW Health for latest updates. Respect at work During times such as these, it is important to maintain respectful relations with colleagues. Please keep informed about the pandemic’s developments and please do not panic. Our members in the Ministry of Health are informed and competent and are working to keep NSW safe and healthy. Your union will continue to support members through this pandemic. If you are aware of colleagues are not yet members ask them to JOIN. If you have moved home or work location, or you have changed your contacts, please update your membership details HERE. Authorised by Stewart Little, General Secretary PSA and State Branch Secretary, CPSU (SPSF Group) NSW Branch, 160 Clarence Street Sydney Our emailing address is psa@psa.asn.au Unsubscribe from emailing list