APRIL 28, 2022 – Members of the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) at Sydney Trains have been calling on management to support their claim for 20 days of paid family and domestic violence leave.
This leave is an essential provision of the enterprise agreement that union members have been negotiating over for months now. AMWU members now have the support of the NSW Transport Minister David Elliott, but this is an initiative that needs full backing of the state government. That is yet to happen.
We know that paid domestic and family violence leave will save lives. It should not be leveraged for political gain.
The leave provision acknowledges the reality that domestic and family violence is prevalent across our society. It recognises how domestic and family violence impacts on all aspects of a person’s life, including their mental health, work attendance and performance.
The inclusion in the Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink Enterprise Agreement also aims to reduce incidences of domestic and family violence by offering training to all employees focused on preventing and responding to domestic and family violence.
Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink workers need these improvements to conditions in place now. We can’t wait.
Quotes attributable to Cory Wright – AMWU NSW & ACT State Secretary:
“The NSW Government has a chance to be a leader in this space and set the tone for the rest of the public service. We urge them to act and implement these vital changes to employment conditions without delay.
This leave empowers workers to look out for their colleagues and advocate for them if they are experiencing domestic and family violence. It makes sense to have preventative measures in the place where we spend so much of our time.
The statistics show that domestic and family violence impacts millions of Australians. When we have an opportunity to make a difference and support those impacted, we should seize it.”