4, j EMBARGO: 5: 00 pm
FOR MEDIA SUNDAY, 13 DECEMBER, 1981
ELECTORATE TALK
With Christmas approaching, there is a renewed burst of
industrial unrest, but the dispute in the Department of Social
Security has been going on for a long time because bans and
limitations were first imposed four years ago.
The main union involved the Administrative and Clerical off icers
Association is in effect claiming the right to determine staff
numbers, a position which Would surely be unacceptable to any
private firm, and is certainly unacceptable to any elected
Government; and they have also attempted to decide for themselves
what duties they would perform, rather than carry out the work
they were employed by the community to do. Thanks to the loyalty
of the majority of the Departmental staff and the efforts of
the Government all pensions and the bulk of other benefits are
still being paid.. But it is impossible to avoid disruption to
the payment of some benefits especially sickness and unemployment
benefits and to deal with all new applicants, and an increas: Lng
number of hardship cases exist which are having to. turn to voluntary
agencies for help.
Bans and limitations by A. C. O. A. members employed in the
Department of Social Security were first imposed in 1977. Furt~ her
bans were imposed during 1979 and 1980, and still further bans
were imposed this year on the implementation of the new health
arrangements for disadvantaged people, on new arrangements for
handling unemployment benefit forms, on overtime, on certain
interviews for unemployed and sickness benefits, and giving pr-iority
to representations from Federal Government members.
Every effort has been taken by the Government and the Department
to meet the stated concerns of the union. A consistently patient
approach has been adopted by management, especially because of
the Government's overriding concern that pensioners and social
welfare beneficiaries should not be inconvenienced further. But
bans have continued in Victoria, and New South Wales, despite
considerable progress on staffing and conditions by the Government.
In May 1980 a consultative working party on staffing and workloads
was established. An amount of $ 2.4 million was allocated in the.
last Budget for the upgrading of accommodation in regional offices.
A comprehensive training programme was implemented, and additional
intensive ' technical training is to begin shortly. The Department
has been exempted from the 2% across-the-board cuts in staff ceilings
this year. A temporary staffing allocation of 660 persons ' was made
to administer the introduction of the disadvantaged persons health
scheme some 350 of that allocation, no longer required for that
purpose, are to'be retained until June to undertake an intensive
training programme in the Department, and overall, staffing in the
Department has increased from about 9,000 in1976. to almost 12,4~ 00 today
-2-
Senator Chaney has made it clear throughout that he would be
prepared to discuss with the union its stated grievances on
staffing and conditions matters, b-ut he has rightly refused
to negotiate while industrial action or the threat of such
action still exists. Faced with a refusal to lift bans
despite all that has been done, the Director-General ' of the
Department of Social Security put staff on notice on 28 October
that unless bans were lifted by 9 November the " no work as
directed no pay" provisions would be used. Bans were lifted
except in N. S. W. and Victoria where employees implementing bans
were placed on nc work as directed no pay. The dispute has
further escalated in those States since then, with a campaign
of rolling stoppages, destructive tactics in regional offices,
and attempts by militant minority groups to take control of*
of fices, harassing and physically-intimidating officers trying
to work. In one case a regional manager was held a virtual
captive in his office.
On 4 December, Senator. Chaney formally advised all staff in Victoria
and N. S. W. that any officer who undertook disruptive or
ihtimidatory actions, or refused to work as directed, would be
dealt with under the provi * sions of the Commonwealth Employees
( Employment Provisions) Act. Since that time over 400 employees
have been stood down under those provisions.
The Government has at all times remained willing to discuss the
union's stated grievances although not in an adversary
atmosphere while industrial action still continued. The union
in these two States consistently refused or rejected this approach
and in so doing demonstrated that it was willing to pursue its
aims with scant regard for the welfare of the community. The
Government has made a number of special arrangements to minimise
disruption as a result of the dispute, but where people. do not
receive their usual benefit cheques otn time, and are faced with
serious difficulty, I suggest they go to the office of the
Department of Social Security which they normally attend and apply
for a counter cheque. Should that office be closed, they should
seek emergency relief from a designated voluntary agency which
the Commonwealth Government is assisting.
The Government is doing-* what it can not only to meet the needs
of those directly affected by the dispute, but also to resolve
the dispute. It was with the interests of the public in mind that
the Government met on Friday last with the A. C. T. U. to discuss
this dispute and other serious industrial inatters. As a result of'
those discussions, the A. C. T. U. President, Mr. Dolan, is to put
certain proposals to the Federal Secretary of the A. C. O. A.,
Mr. Munro, prior to a meeting of the Federal Executive of A. C. O. A.
due to take place on Monday.
W e want this dispute to end. Senator Chaney is prepared to consult
with the unions, but we cannot concede the right of unions to
determine staffing levels and we cannot agree to consultations
while industrial action continues. 000---