Following on from the initial meeting of the DCT transition joint union/employer working group last Friday, CPSU and HACSU have met with union members across the state to discuss the planned scuttling of the Department of Communities Tasmania.

The overwhelming issue is that there is no reasonable explanation of the rationale behind the proposal, and there is absolutely no detail about how workers will be affected. Workers in Children, Youth and Families are particularly concerned given what happened when those services were moved to Education in South Australia.

Members at all of the meetings passed the following motion unanimously:

‍“Members need more information about the changes that will directly affect them and their clients to be provided without further delay. ‍Members cannot meaningfully engage in any change process without the relevant information. If change is imposed upon our service area members resolve to consider industrial action until the relevant information is provided.”

‍Both unions will write to the new Premier to seek a meeting to discuss what we see as an announcement without the required substance. Whilst various areas of DCT are already in the throes of substantial reform, we also have no information on how those reforms will continue or what will happen with those elements.

At any rate, the current timeline for change is completely unachievable and workers have a right to be provided with all relevant information about changes that affect them. We’ll be out to talk to you over the next few weeks, and we’ll keep you updated on any developments.