With the damage and flooding caused by Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, it is important to know what provisions have been included in your collective agreement as part of union negotiations.
We hope you are not affected but if you are then it’s important to know your industrial rights.
In the event that you and/or your family are significantly impacted and continue to be impacted such that you do not believe you are in a position to return to work immediately, we encourage you to make application to your principal or employer to access relevant Emergency and Natural Disaster Leave.
A number of collective agreements contain Emergency and Natural Disaster Leave provisions (please see below).
Should you need assistance with your application and stating your case or would like to check the provisions you may be entitled to, please contact our union on FREECALL 1800 177 938.
Emergency and Natural Disaster Leave
Emergency and Natural Disaster Leave provisions can be found in the collective agreements that apply to Queensland Catholic (Clause 8.11), Anglican (Clause 14.47) and Lutheran (clause 7.18 and 7.19) schools, as well as some independent schools.
Whether or not a collective agreement contains an Emergency and Natural Disaster Leave provision, the principles of the Queensland Catholic collective agreement provide sound guidance.
Fundamentally, where members have safety concerns for their family or property in the event of severe weather, they should remain at home and advise their school accordingly.
In the Queensland Catholic sector provision, employees can access this leave where they are prevented from attending their workplace due to natural disaster or emergency such as flooding, cyclonic disturbances or severe storms.
This leave allows employees to ensure the safety of themselves, their family and their property.
This also applies where employees are unable to travel to and from their home or workplace due to flooding.
These provisions also generally include leave for staff to attend emergencies if they are members of the State Emergency Service, voluntary firefighting units or Honorary Ambulance Offices for example.
Access Emergency and Natural Disaster Leave provisions
Catholic school members – click here for Emergency and Natural Disaster Leave
Anglican school members – click here for your Natural Disaster Leave arrangements
Lutheran school members – click here for your Local Disaster and Emergency Leave and here for your Leave for Attendance at Emergencies clause
Employees in Catholic and Lutheran schools have access to up to five days of paid leave, while Anglican school employees have access to up to three days of paid leave.
Other Schools
Members in all other schools should refer to their collective agreement via MyIEU to confirm whether such provisions are in place for their workplace.
We are here to help
Members who experience issues accessing paid leave in these circumstances should contact our union on FREECALL 1800 177 938 for support.
Our union, on behalf of all IEU-QNT members, extends the hope that members and their families remain safe during the clean-up period and are able to return to work when ready.
Government advice is available from the Get Ready Queensland website.
Image credit: Tropical Cyclone Alfred's forecasted path, Zoom Earth
