Know Your Rights: Annual Leave

With Brett Peters…

Vice President

Annual Leave 55

55.5 Any employee who has completed at least one year’s service, who is regularly on shift work and/or public holidays, when proceeding on annual leave shall be paid a loading at the rate of 20% of the appropriate weekly wage rate prescribed under Part B, Table 1 of this Award, in addition to payment for such leave of absence.

55.6 Any other employee who has completed at least one year’s service when proceeding on annual leave shall be paid a loading at the rate of 17.5% of the appropriate weekly wage rate under Part B, Table 1 of this Award, in addition to payment for such leave of absence.

Know Your Rights: Bereavement Leave

With Brett Peters…

Vice President

62.1 An employee is entitled to up to 2 days paid leave on each occasion if a member of the immediate family or household in Australia dies.

62.2 Each day or part day ised under 62.1 is deducted from the amount of personal/carer leave under sub-clause 59.1.

Executive steel for strong worker conditions

Once again the Steel City put on a fabulous day for the second meeting of the full Executive on 21 May 2012. The meeting built on the success of last year’s meeting, addressing a number of the key issues for bus drivers.

A particular focus was the ongoing uniform allowance dispute which has seen STA deny drivers reimbursement for money spent on uniforms for over a year now. Despite STA’s stonewalling workers on this up until now the Division hopes to have a solution to put to members in the coming weeks.

The Executive also discussed the Transport Minister’s recent announcement to put metropolitan private bus contracts out to competitive tendering. Sydney Buses were not affected by the decision but it’s important that we stay on top of this issue and look at what it might mean for the future of the bus industry, particularly in outer metropolitan areas such as Newcastle.

STA is also looking to tie carers leave in with its sick leave policy. The union has expressed its strong opposition to this policy and the Executive is resolved to oppose any move to do this all the way to the Industrial Relations Commission.

All delegates who attended should be congratulated on their excellent input on the day.

The Division would also like to thank the Hamilton and Belmont institute committees for their wonderful hospitality on the day.

Know Your Rights: Parental Leave

With Brett Peters…

Divisional Vice President

65. Parental Leave

65.2 An employee who is not eligible for maternity leave or adoption leave may, in special circumstances, be granted parental leave to care for a child who is under two years of age at the time the leave commences.

65.4 Parental leave is for a period of not more than 52 weeks from the date the leave commenced.

65.5 Parental leave is unpaid leave, and can consist of solely parental leave (unpaid), or a combination of parental, annual and/or long service leave, if the employee has accrued such leave.