We met yet again with Multicap’s management reps recently to try and progress talks on your new agreement.

While we did make some headway on a few things, unfortunately Multicap are playing two steps forward one step back with your wages and working conditions right now – even though we’ve told them that the only people it hurts is you and your participants.

We couldn’t have been clearer with Multicap that we won’t see any worker go backwards on this new agreement, but still, they were insistent on driving their boots into your afternoon shift allowance.

They’re still proposing their change to shift penalties from the current hours of 7am– 6pm instead to 6am – 8pm. It’ll mean slashes to pay, but it could also see your hours of work changed so that you’re required to work later or earlier all without being properly compensated under their proposal.

Our biggest concern is that if they’re successful with these cuts, they’ll change rosters to skimp on shift penalties and you’ll miss out. While they’ve said they won’t do this in meetings, they’ve also refused to put it in writing anywhere which is a worrying sign about their plans.

Despite all of this, they have agreed to some of your claims such as:  

• A buddy shift allowance

• An increase to the sleep over allowance (but only to make it $85)

• An increase in the travel allowance to 96 cents per km

• Better casual conversion to give workers more permanency

• Increases to part-timers’ contracted hours

Our next meeting is scheduled for Monday 11 December, and we’re hoping that by then Multicap will have come to their senses and backed down from these cuts – but if they haven’t, we’ll need to talk about a plan.

We’ll be out visiting you next week as part of our annual Disability Worker Week to say thanks for all that you do and to give you a chance to win some prizes. While we’re at your work, please feel free to come and have a chat with one of our organisers and ask us any questions you might have about the bargaining!

If you’ve got any questions before then, make sure you get in touch with us via HACSUassist on 1300 880 032 or by email to assist@hacsu.org.au