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20-10
QRNATIONAL COAL SAFE START – RETURN TO WORK FORM
21 April 2010
The AFULE was provided with a copy of the newly developed Safe Start – Return to Work form.
The AFULE raised concerns with QRNational Coal with respect to Part 2. On Shift Supervisor complete in preparation for Return to Work Meeting of the form. In particular, it appears management will be monitoring employees who have had more than one absence in the last three months and/or who have an absence which coincides with any annual leave or BLP’s taken.
The AFULE contends Leave for Own Illness/Injury, Leave for Family/Emergency Reasons, Compassionate Leave, and Bereavement Leave are all entitlements under the QR Limited Traincrew Union Collective Workplace Agreement 2009 (the “Agreement”). Whilst the AFULE does not condone the abuse of leave, the AFULE is concerned that employees’ may be persecuted for taking leave for genuine reasons which is an entitlement under the Agreement.
The reason why employees take Leave for Own Illness/Injury, Leave for Family/Emergency Reasons, Compassionate Leave, and Bereavement Leave is because they are not fit for duty because they are ill, a family member is ill and requires care, a family member is seriously ill/injured or a family member has passed away. If leave taken is excessively monitored by QRNational Coal, employees’ may feel their job security is being threatened and may come back to work before they are fit for duty.
As you are well aware, we are seeing an increase in SPAD’s and safety related breaches. As a result of this, we are seeing an increase in disciplinary action being applied inclusive of termination of employment. It would be disappointing if QRNational Coal created a culture whereby employees’ felt they could not take leave for genuine reasons for fear of having their employment security threatened. It was be further disappointing if an employee has a SPAD or safety related breach because they came back to work before they were fit for duty.
The AFULE requested Part 2(f) and (g) of the Safe Start – Return to Work form be deleted. To date, QRNational Coal has declined this request.
The AFULE has advised QRNational Coal that it will be monitoring the situation and if members feel that they are being persecuted for taking leave for genuine reasons, we will be progressing the matter further.
If you have any queries in relation to this matter, please don’t hesitate to contact the State Office on (07) 3257 1151 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Yours fraternally,
GREG SMITH
STATE SECRETARY