Recently, your HSU organiser wrote to Southern IML Management to seek progress on the negotiation of HSR Work Groups and the HSU’s underpayment claim for part time members. The response we received was inadequate. As such, the HSU will be taking further action to enforce the rights of its members.

Underpayment of Part Time Staff

As of today (March 16), Southern IML are still yet to take any meaningful steps to rectify this issue. Affected staff are still waiting to receive confirmation from the company that they intend to pay back the money. As a result, the HSU will be pursuing any and all enforcement options available to us to ensure that our members are paid what they are owed. Southern IML should:

• Inform all affected staff in writing that they are owed funds and provide them with a timeline for payment
• Explain to all staff how this occurred and acknowledge their mistake
• Satisfy the HSU that they have correctly identified all affected staff

Failure to do so will result in further enforcement action, including but not limited to disputing this matter in the Fair Work Commission.

HSR Work Groups

It has now been more than three weeks since the HSU made its request for HSR Work Groups. Management is yet to make any meaningful attempt to negotiate with the HSU. Southern IML needs to:

• Notify all staff of their intent to negotiate work groups and facilitate their participation
• Present a proposed work group structure to workers and the HSU so that negotiations can commence

Southern IML must negotiate work groups as per the WHS Act. Failure to do so will result in further enforcement action by the HSU.