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TAFE NSW UPDATE: concern remains for public safety amidst continuing campus operations

In light of the recent public health orders affecting not only the three Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown and Liverpool, but also the Greater Sydney Region (GSR) where significant risk of community transmission still exists, the CPSU NSW wrote to TAFE NSW. The union raised concerns regarding the control measures in place (if any) to mitigate the risk of transmission at all campuses, but particularly those at Wetherill Park, Bankstown, Padstow, Liverpool and Miller.

TAFE NSW has responded to the CPSU NSW, although the response is far from adequate. It is the view of the CPSU NSW that the delta variant is far more transmissible than other virus variants, and that more of an effort should be made to accommodate those employees who do not feel safe in going to work. Consequently, the CPSU NSW has once again written to TAFE NSW with a list of proposed controls we consider necessary in order to ensure that our members are safe at work. These proposals are:

1. That TAFE NSW conduct risk assessments of every TAFE NSW campus in order to understand whether the current measures in place are adequate.
2. That TAFE NSW close libraries, customer service centres, and all common areas, to all students, teachers, and visitors, and to all but one staff member in each contiguous space. Staff members are coming from different parts of the GSR and other affected zones, working next to each other and breathing the same air; these are major safety risks.
3. That TAFE NSW gives explicit permission to staff currently working from home to take home their TAFE NSW computer and accessories in order to enable these working arrangements.
4. That TAFE NSW issues a directive to all management advising them that if their staff can work from home then they must work from home.

However, we understand that not everyone will feel safe attending work, whether they are required to attend work at a campus within one of the affected LGAs or in the GSR. Members are therefore reminded that you have the right, under s 84 (A3) of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) (WHS Act) to cease work if you have a reasonable concern that the performance of your work would expose you to a serious risk to your health or safety. This does not mean that you can simply pack up and go home if you don’t feel safe; rather, you must give a notice under the WHS Act to your direct manager and the Managing Director of TAFE NSW if you think that this applies to you, and your employer (TAFE NSW) must endeavor to find suitable alternative work for you to perform. Failing this, you will be stood down on full pay until such a time as the risk or hazard is removed. If you do not believe that you feel safe attending your workplace as a result of COVID-19 concerns, or have any questions about how to fill out the s 84 notice, then please contact the CPSU NSW.

In the meantime, if you know of anybody who isn’t a union member but would like to join, they can join online here: cpsunsw.org.au/join/.

We are stronger as a collective, and acting in union is the only way that we will be able to stand up and fight against TAFE NSW blatant disregard for your safety and wellbeing at work.