Bundaleer management recently circulated correspondence about casual employment and roster obligations.  The email from management states casual staff are ‘contractually obligated’ to work all rostered shifts. This is not true. As a casual employee you have the right to accept or refuse any shift offered by an employer. A casual employee as per the Fair Work Act that states a person is a casual employee if:

• They are offered a job
• The offer does not include a firm advance commitment that the work will continue indefinitely with an agreed pattern of work
• They accept the offer knowing that there is no firm advance commitment and become an employee.

Essentially, this means casual employees are not ‘obligated’ to work on an ongoing basis.

The casual employment information statement from the Fair Work Commission is available at this link.

While good permanent jobs for all is always a goal of the union movement, this is not at the expense of genuine and preferred casual employment and the rights of workers.

Your HSU organiser Karen Wiles contacted Bundaleer management, requesting the email be retracted and members receive an apology for any confusion about the ‘rostering obligations’ of casual employees.

If you are unsure of your rights in the workplace, please do not hesitate to contact [E-Mail not displayed] or your local organiser Karen Wiles on 0408 164 519 or [E-Mail not displayed]. If you know a work colleague, who is not a union member talk to them today about joining – new members can join at www.hsu.asn.au/join or call 1300 478 679.