THE Wimmera’s Centrelink, Medicare and child support offices will likely be hit by strikes on Friday.
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The Commonwealth Department of Human Services has reminded the public that some employees will take part in industrial action on March 24.
Community and Public Sector Union campaign and communications director Dermot Browne told the Mail-Times there would be strikes in Horsham.
“There will be rolling stoppages from 1.30pm,” he said.
“I can’t say how many people will go on strike as some are taking half-hour strikes, some a taking a lot of little strikes and some are off for the whole afternoon.
“I would expect some delays at the counter in Centrelink and Medicare.”
Department of Human Services spokesman Hank Jongen encouraged anyone with non-urgent Centrelink, Medicare or Child Support business to consider holding off calling or visiting the department during the action.
“Although we saw only minimal service disruptions during similar industrial action last week, I again urge the public to delay calling the department or visiting a service centre tomorrow unless they have urgent business,” he said.
“Payments will not be impacted. Staff will still be available to assist people in need, but industrial action may affect phone and face-to-face services.
“We encourage people to consider using self-service options including the Express Plus mobile apps and myGov to do their regular business with us.”
Mr Browne said the union members were striking over stalled Enterprise Bargaining Agreement negotiations.
“They haven’t had a pay rise in four years and they are fighting back against cuts to their conditions that would make it much harder to work for the department.
“We have a very female focused workforce, most of them are women, and the department wants to take away the ability to chose shifts. For people with kids, that’s a very big deal.”
Mr Jongen said it is unfortunate people trying to access Centrelink, Medicare and Child Support services are being inconvenienced.
“It’s frustrating the CPSU continues to take industrial action while we are bargaining before the Fair Work Commission,” Mr Jongen said.
“Instead, the CPSU should be focused on working with us on delivering an enterprise agreement that meets the department’s operational and service delivery requirements while giving our staff a well-deserved pay rise.”
Information on digital self-service options is available at humanservices.gov.au/selfservice.