As a union leader I can say that #paidpandemicleave and secure work is absolutely vital. Here's an example re Serco and immigration detention that should give you pause.
The problem in Serco immigration detention centres is not a lack of PPE currently. It's the intersection of pandemic leave policies and insecure work.
Currently, Serco workers can access paid special leave if it's needed because of work but...
if you need to test or self-isolate because of contacts outside of work, Serco workers need to use their own personal leave.
However, there are hundreds of staff in detention who are casual or insecure workers. They don't get access to personal leave. My best estimate is that it's somewhere between 20-30% of staff.
The entire integrity of the country's COVID response rests on insecure workers weighing up whether to get paid for a shift or not.
Serco's pandemic leave policies go beyond detention. The rates of insecure work in their contact centres are even higher again running at 50%+ and...
Cases are now cropping up in multiple Serco contact centres across Melbourne. The sort of centres that people actually call when contacting the ATO or Centrelink.
Every workplace that runs on insecure work are now part of an intersecting network of Ruby Princesses all popping off one after the other.
