Babies, breastfeeding and bargaining

Bushfire risks & rights

The recent bushfire crisis generated some obvious Work Health and Safety issues for members including extreme heat and poor air quality across many regions and major capital cities.

The potential for long term effects of breathing in toxic smoke is a real concern for all but for those with underlying conditions making them particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of contaminated air, including asthma, this is a serious immediate threat. For workers in the fire zone there are also concerns around asbestos, toxic burnt materials such as cladding, extreme fatigue, stress, and potentially post-traumatic stress disorder.

NTEU’s advice is that if you are faced with working in what you believe to be hazardous conditions you should contact your local Health and Safety Representative to report the issue and, most importantly, make a record. You should also contact your local NTEU Branch staff who can provide you with site specific advice.

Most NTEU negotiated collective agreements contain provisions for leave to assist with emergency services or responses but many are very strictly defined and don’t cover the situation where the person is volunteering in a community organised capacity. The scale of this year’s bushfire crisis, and the likelihood that we will see more extreme events as climate change accelerates, means that we may need to look to extending our rights in this respect and also consider the possibility of other forms of emergency leave for those who are impacted by natural disasters and emergencies. ◆

Gabe Gooding, National Assistant Secretary

Babies, breastfeeding and bargaining

ANU member Kate Buscombe made history last year during Enterprise Bargaining negotiations for the ANU Student Associations, becoming the first NTEU bargaining team member to breastfeed during a bargaining meeting (or at least the first that we’ve heard of – we’re open to other claimants of this record coming forward!). Kate brought baby Joe into the world 15 months ago. As he was about 7 months old when bargaining began, Joe can also potentially lay claim to being the youngest ever member of a bargaining team. We asked Kate why she felt it was important to be a part of bargaining, despite being on parental leave, and why she decided to bring Joe along. She said: 'It was important to me to be involved in the bargaining process to have direct input in to the development of the new EA, particularly when it comes to protecting conditions of working parents and protecting conditions which promote a healthy work-life balance for all staff. It was also important to me to be a living example of the ongoing and valuable contributions that breastfeeding mothers make to the workplace. With the incredible support of my union, I felt confident and comfortable participating in the bargaining process – and proud to show Joe the important work that our unions do.' Joe’s presence may have helped in the negotiations too! Bargaining concluded recently, and staff have voted to accept a new Agreement which has a large focus on equity. We've managed to secure improvements to leave conditions across the board. Paid parental leave will be extended from 20 weeks to 21 weeks, and paid partner leave will be extended from 10 days to 15 days. There is an increase in paid leave for those experiencing family and intimate partner violence from 10 days to 15 days, and the explicit inclusion of menstruation, menopause, fertility treatment and gender transition as valid reasons for personal leave. In addition to all of these important equity measures, there is also provision for flextime and other arrangements to allow people to work more flexibly, taking into account responsibilities outside of the workplace. In addition to these improvements, the new Agreement explicitly includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (A&TSI) staff for the first time. The Student Associations will aim to provide employment opportunities to A&TSI staff to achieve a workforce which is reflective of the Australian population, and will also provide additional leave for staff with religious or cultural responsibilities. This is an important and overdue step, and one we're proud to deliver.

Congratulations to Kate and Joe, on both the great example you’ve set for other breastfeeding parents and for the new Agreement negotiated for the ANU Student Associations. ◆

Lachlan Clohesy, ACT Division Organiser

Below: NTEU Bargaining Reps Sam Guthrie, Kate Buscombe and baby Joe. Lachlan Clohesy