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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/jul/20/bureau-of-meteorology-staff-to-strike-for-three-weeks-over-pay-and-conditions
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| Bureau of Meteorology staff to strike for three weeks over pay and conditions | Bureau of Meteorology staff to strike for three weeks over pay and conditions |
| (11 days later) | |
| Staff at the Bureau of Meteorology will take part in three weeks of rolling strikes designed to cause “maximum disruption” to the national weather agency’s management, as they seek to preserve working conditions for remote staff. | Staff at the Bureau of Meteorology will take part in three weeks of rolling strikes designed to cause “maximum disruption” to the national weather agency’s management, as they seek to preserve working conditions for remote staff. |
| Up to a third of the bureau’s staff will take part in the protected industrial action from 20 July to 9 August. Union members will stop work without notice in the early mornings and evenings, refuse to answer phone calls and not respond to non-urgent media inquiries. | Up to a third of the bureau’s staff will take part in the protected industrial action from 20 July to 9 August. Union members will stop work without notice in the early mornings and evenings, refuse to answer phone calls and not respond to non-urgent media inquiries. |
| However, the bureau has said it will continue to provide forecasts to the public, and striking staff have committed to providing critical services and severe weather warnings. | However, the bureau has said it will continue to provide forecasts to the public, and striking staff have committed to providing critical services and severe weather warnings. |
| The deputy secretary of the Community and Public Sector Union, Beth Vincent-Pietsch, said the industrial dispute was due to the bureau’s failure to provide a pay rise over three years, and a plan to cut allowances for staff in remote locations. | The deputy secretary of the Community and Public Sector Union, Beth Vincent-Pietsch, said the industrial dispute was due to the bureau’s failure to provide a pay rise over three years, and a plan to cut allowances for staff in remote locations. |
| “At the Bureau of Meteorology they have held onto nasty cuts that other government agencies have dropped,” she said. | “At the Bureau of Meteorology they have held onto nasty cuts that other government agencies have dropped,” she said. |
| “The key issue for our members is that they are trying to cut [the] remote localities allowance. We’ve got people on Norfolk Island or in the Pilbara, and depending on the job that they do, and where they are required to go to, they get a number of provisions for being in remote localities. | “The key issue for our members is that they are trying to cut [the] remote localities allowance. We’ve got people on Norfolk Island or in the Pilbara, and depending on the job that they do, and where they are required to go to, they get a number of provisions for being in remote localities. |
| “It’s not that we’re going for something new and groovy that they refuse to give, we just want to hold onto what we’ve got.” | “It’s not that we’re going for something new and groovy that they refuse to give, we just want to hold onto what we’ve got.” |
| The CPSU’s acting secretary for bureau staff, Andrew Charles, added that the union would maintain a “skeleton staff so that critical services such as severe weather warnings are not compromised”. | The CPSU’s acting secretary for bureau staff, Andrew Charles, added that the union would maintain a “skeleton staff so that critical services such as severe weather warnings are not compromised”. |
| As part of the planned action, staff can stop work during a morning window between 7am and 10.30am, and an evening window of 4pm to 7pm. | As part of the planned action, staff can stop work during a morning window between 7am and 10.30am, and an evening window of 4pm to 7pm. |
| Forecasters who provide live crosses to media will also be asked to read a prepared statement about the industrial action before every appearance. | Forecasters who provide live crosses to media will also be asked to read a prepared statement about the industrial action before every appearance. |
| Vincent-Pietsch said the action was “focused on maximum disruption to the bureau’s management” rather than the public. | Vincent-Pietsch said the action was “focused on maximum disruption to the bureau’s management” rather than the public. |
| “I don’t think you can say [the statement] will hurt the service that is provided, but the bureau hate it,” she said. | “I don’t think you can say [the statement] will hurt the service that is provided, but the bureau hate it,” she said. |
| A statement from the Bureau of Meteorology said it would “continue to deliver timely forecasts and warnings” during the strike. | A statement from the Bureau of Meteorology said it would “continue to deliver timely forecasts and warnings” during the strike. |
| “The bureau has robust procedures and practices in place to ensure services essential for the safety and security of the Australian public will continue. Bureau management and bargaining representatives are resuming discussions on areas of concern with the current draft enterprise agreement.” | “The bureau has robust procedures and practices in place to ensure services essential for the safety and security of the Australian public will continue. Bureau management and bargaining representatives are resuming discussions on areas of concern with the current draft enterprise agreement.” |
| As of June last year, the bureau employed 1,664 staff and maintained 50 field offices. Housing was provided to staff and their dependents at 15 remote locations. | As of June last year, the bureau employed 1,664 staff and maintained 50 field offices. Housing was provided to staff and their dependents at 15 remote locations. |
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