Centrelink and Medicare staff are amongst those employed by the Department of Human Services who will again strike over the next two weeks.
While previous industrial action has seen only 5000 of the Department’s 36,000 staff walk out, this current wave is happening at one of the busiest times of the year. Not only are reporting periods altered due to the upcoming holidays, but the changes to the asset thresholds will undoubtedly leave more customers requiring assistance.
The four-year long dispute over pay and conditions has seen a series of strikes and industrial action, with the latest rolling stoppages taking place on Monday 5 December, Friday 9 December, Monday 12 December and Friday 16 December.
“Medicare, Centrelink and Child Support staff are frustrated and worried by the Turnbull Government’s mean and illogical public sector bargaining policy,” said Nadine Flood, National Secretary of the Community and Public Sector Union.
“These working mums and dads are asking us if they can go on strike again to bring some attention to this unfair situation, as they face their third Christmas without a pay rise.”
“DHS staff work every day to help ordinary Australians but they’ve been doing it pretty tough themselves for three long years as the Government’s frozen their pay while trying to strip essential rights, such as the family-friendly conditions that allow a call-centre worker to balance shift work with raising a family.”
What do you think of the strikes? Are you concerned you will be affected?
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