Frequently asked questions

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Employment issues

Often questions regarding the restructure arise. Listed below are some "frequently asked questions" raised by staff regarding the restructure relating to employment issues.

1. Will I still have a job?
2. Will redundancies apply?
3. Where will I be working on 1 January 2010?
4. Will there be changes to my salary, working conditions, benefits or terms and conditions of employment?
5. Will my job change as a result of the metropolitan organisational change?
6. What will happen to the current CEO/General Manager of the existing cemetery trusts?
7. Will I be required to work in a different location?
8. Will my current hours of work change?
9. What communications will occur with staff, who are currently on long term leave (eg: maternity)?
10. Will Unions be informed in the restructure process? If so, which ones?
11. Will new EBA’s be entered into before the restructure is finalised?
12. How will current staff EBA’s be affected (including those recently approved by the authorities)?
13. Who will I report to on 1 January 2010?
14. Will new positions be created?
15. What is the position for council employed staff working in cemeteries?

1. Will I still have a job?

Yes. It is intended that existing cemetery trust staff will transfer to the newly created trusts on the same terms and conditions of employment under their existing agreement/contract and with their entitlements preserved.

2. Will redundancies apply?

No. Cemetery Trust staff will transfer to the new entity on the same terms and conditions of employment as outlined in their existing agreement/contract. (see answer to question 1).

3. Where will I be working on 1 January 2010?

At your current place of employment – it will be business as usual.

4. Will there be changes to my salary, working conditions, benefits or terms and conditions of employment?

No. It is intended that existing cemetery trust staff will transfer to the newly created trusts on the same terms and conditions of employment as outlined in their existing agreement/contract and with their entitlements preserved.

5. Will my job change as a result of the metropolitan organisational change?

With the exception of existing CEO’s/General Managers no jobs will change simply because of the restructure. In the future, the new metropolitan cemetery trusts may wish to negotiate workplace change. If the new trusts decide to negotiate changes in the workplace, they will be required to comply with laws and agreements governing the processes for workplace change, (or such negotiations) including consultation with staff affected and their unions or authorised representatives. As currently occurs.

6. What will happen to the current CEO/General Manager of the existing cemetery trusts?

On 1 January 2010 there will be two new metropolitan cemetery trusts, this means there will only be two CEO/ General Manager roles.

Interim appointments will be made to these roles, pending ongoing CEO/General Manager appointments by the new trusts.

Current cemetery trust CEO’s/ General Managers have contracts of employment with their existing cemetery trust. These contractual obligations will be honoured.

7. Will I be required to work in a different location?

Staff will continue to operate as is their current practice. Any change will ultimately be a matter for the new cemetery trusts to negotiate.

8. Will my current hours of work change?

Staff will continue to operate as is their current practice. This includes hours of work. Any proposed changes will be a matter for the new cemetery trusts to negotiate (see answer to question 5).

9. What communications will occur with staff, who are currently on long term leave (eg: maternity)?

As is current practice, any communication with staff on leave and/or at work, is the responsibility of his/her current employer.

10. Will Unions be informed in the restructure process? If so, which ones?

Unions representing staff will be informed.

11. Will new EBA’s be entered into before the restructure is finalised?

If current EBA’s are due to expire before the 31/12/09 these EBA’s can be negotiated on a good faith basis keeping in mind government policy as outlined in the Industrial Relations Policy Manual 2006 (or as amended).

12. How will current staff EBA’s be affected (including those recently approved by the authorities)?

EBA’s in existence at 31/12/2009 will continue to apply to the newly created cemetery trusts according to their terms and applicable law.

13. Who will I report to on 1 January 2010?

Prior to 1 January 2010, an interim CEO will be appointed for the new cemetery trust. Staff will report to their current manager/team leader or equivalent until further notice by the new cemetery trust and interim CEO.

14. Will new positions be created?

This is a decision for the new cemetery trusts to determine.

15. What is the position for council employed staff working in cemeteries?

Council staff employed to work in a cemetery will be offered equivalent jobs in the new trusts.

Transfer to the new trusts will occur on the same basis as Cemetery Trust staff (see answer to question 1 and see answer to question 4).

Download document

You can download the above list of frequently asked questions relating to employment issues in the PDF below.

Frequently asked questions - employment issues (37kb, pdf)

Other related frequently asked questions

Changes to Cemetery trusts - Questions and Answers

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