CEPU BANS THREAT TO
MEMBER HEALTH & SAFETY
The CEPU’s highest decision-making body – the Divisional Conference – has taken
an important decision to ban member co-operation with Australia Post’s Facility
Nominated Doctor process.
Independent bodies such as the Australian Industrial Relations Commission
previously ruled that the process was improper – it stopped the previous FND
plan dead in its tracks.
But Post snubbed the independent umpire and abused other legislative powers –
through its ‘Principal Determinations’ – to bring in its own rules and
bully employees into getting medical assessments/treatment by Post’s
“cash-for-treatment” doctors.
The unfair FND policy has been brought to the attention of Parliament and the
media. The Federal Government is also considering options to also stem Post’s
abuse of the FND process.
Australia Post employees who suffer from a work related injury/condition are
having their work related injury/condition and workers compensation rights
undermined by a policy that’s systematically forcing members back to work –
regardless of the need to preserve patient health and wellbeing.
Post is putting production stats and profits before the health of their
employees. The Union cannot accept members’ health and safety to be compromised
any further.
The FND BAN
is effective immediately.
-
All
Australia Post employees who are members of the Union are authorised to BAN
attending FND medical assessments/treatment following a work related
injury/medical condition.
-
Members of
the Union should follow these steps when a work related injury/medical
condition is sustained in the workplace:
1. Report the work related injury as soon as practicable to the workplace
Manager on duty.
2. Complete a P400 Injury report form irrespective of whether lost time or
treatment is required to manage the injury/ medical condition.
3. Attend a personal and preferred treating medical practitioner to obtain a
medical report/certificate and for the treating medical practitioner to manage
and/or treat end to end the work related injury/medical condition.
4. Complete a workers compensation claim form and attach the preferred
treating medical practitioner’s report/certificate when an injury/medical
condition results in loss of time, reduction in normal weekly earnings and/or
requirement of medical treatment.
5. Make diary notes and copies of all Documentation relating to your work
related injury/condition.
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MOTION 25 (DECISION 14)
NATIONAL CEPU FND BAN:
AUSTRALIA POST FACILITY NOMINATED DOCTORS (FND)
“Conference notes the
reports of many hundreds of Australia Post employees and their families
suffering as a result of the Principal Determination No 10 ‘Injury
Management Policy’ introduced by Australia Post on 2 July 2006 under
section 89 of the Australian Postal Corporation Act 1989.
Conference condemns the actions by Australia Post of abusing this
legislative power in introducing this Determination under the Australian
Postal Corporation Act 1989 and only following the decision by the
Australian Industrial Relations Commission in its ruling that the
actions of Australia Post to be unlawful under the Award, when forcing
employees to attend FNDs for assessment and treatment following an
employee reporting a work related injury.
Conference is of the view that immediate action is necessary by the
Australia Post membership to ensure injured workers and their families
no longer suffer as a result of FNDs who are appointed and paid for by
Australia Post to provide medical reports that are utilised to undermine
injured workers rights:
-
to have their injury/medical condition managed
and treated by their preferred treating medical practitioner;
-
to have access to their workers compensation
entitlements;
-
to have access to proper rehabilitation
assessments and gradual return to work programmes;
-
to secure future job security against what
Australia Post calls their ‘Non Stat Policy’; and
-
to protect their personal medical privacy.
Conference therefore
resolves, effective immediately, for an indefinite BAN known as the
‘NATIONAL CEPU FND BAN’ to be implemented by all Australia Post
employees who are members of the Union from attending FND medical
assessments/treatment following a work related injury/medical condition.
Further, Conference resolves for all Australia Post employees who are
members of the Union to implement all of the following steps when a work
related injury/medical condition is sustained in the workplace.
-
Report the work related injury as soon as
practicable to the workplace Manager on duty.
-
Complete a P400 Injury report form irrespective
of whether lost time or treatment is required to manage the injury/
medical condition.
-
Attend a personal and preferred treating medical
practitioner to obtain a medical report/certificate and for the
treating medical practitioner to manage and/or treat end to end the
work related injury/medical condition.
-
Complete a workers compensation claim form and
attach the preferred treating medical practitioner’s
report/certificate when an injury/medical condition results in loss
of time, reduction in normal weekly earnings and/or requirement of
medical treatment.”
CARRIED. |
