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Work & Family Test Case : Millions to Benefit
02 September 2004
Up to 4.5 million Australians with caring responsibilities stand to benefit from the ACTU Work and Family Test Case which starts Wednesday 1 September.
The Health Services Union (HSU) National Work & Life Balance Policy Committee Chairperson, Eileen McEvoy said "This case is about helping people achieve a better balance between work and family".
The ACTU estimates there are up to 4.5 million Australians in work who care for children or other family members. Around 2.7 million working people are parents or carers of pre-school children while more than half a million working people care for other family members.
The ACTU is seeking more flexible work arrangements for all families through changes to industrial awards.
Key claims are:
- Choice for parents to take unpaid leave from work for up to two years following the birth of child - an extension from the current one year entitlement to parental leave.
- The option for full time employees returning from parental leave to return to work on a part-time basis until their child is at school.
- Ability for employees to "buy" through 'salary sacrificing' up to six weeks a year extra annual leave that could be used for school holidays.
- Flexible start and finish times so that parents and carers can pick up or deliver children to school or childcare.
The major employer groups ACCI, Ai Group as well as the Howard Government are opposing the ACTU claims.
Ms McEvoy went on to say "This is an important issue for the HSU because our members are in an industry that is operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and continually trying to balance work and family life."
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