All issues of Pulse published in 2024, please scroll down for links to content.
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There’s been a rapid resumption to bargaining at CSIRO following the summer hiatus, with Executive releasing a timetable for consideration of a new collective agreement over coming weeks, ahead of an all-staff vote expected in late February. Full update here.
Come to a Staff Association meeting in February for more information on prospective changes to pay, superannuation, consultation, employee rights and working conditions. Non-members who want to attend can join the union to participate. Find an event here.
Australian science has been “left behind” as federal funding for research and development sinks to a 30-year low, with departmental officials confirming that direct government spending on R&D is only 0.49% of GDP. Report here.
CSIRO Staff Association members and delegates are invited to submit an expression of interest to attend Science meets Parliament. As a founding member of event host STA, each year the union sponsors a number of members to participate. More here.
A new study by Oxford University found that workplace wellbeing interventions such as stress management, mindfulness classes and wellbeing apps had hardly any statistically significant impact on worker wellbeing or job satisfaction. Story here.
The CSIRO Staff Association awards several scholarships each year to eligible members; another great benefit of union membership. The program is designed to support development of skills and qualifications in the workplace. More here.
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Job security concerns at CSIRO continue to rise, with fears that staff in Data61 will soon join the growing list of cuts – Enterprise Services, Health & Biosecurity, Agriculture & Food and Manufacturing – being made across the organisation. Full story here.
Employee confidence in the strategic direction of CSIRO has taken a major tumble, with the release of the results from a staff culture survey that spells big trouble for the organisation’s senior leadership. More analysis here.
Despite pleas from staff and stakeholders, senior executives at CSIRO are pressing ahead with plans for swingeing cuts to jobs and research in the Health and Biosecurity business unit, targeting human health science. Report here.
Cuts to CSIRO jobs and research are attracting public attention and generating media coverage. For the information of members, we’ve put together a page (that will be updated regularly) listing all the recent stories. Read more here.
A quick reminder that CSIRO Staff Association membership contributions are tax deductible. If you pay union dues through payroll deduction, claimable membership fees will be listed on your 2023-24 Income Statement issued by CSIRO.
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CSIRO staff have requested Science Minister Ed Husic’s urgent intervention to stop the widespread job cuts that are being rolled out across the organisation. Read more here.
Minister Husic has opened Science Week by singing the praises of Australian researchers amid a worsening crisis at CSIRO as the agency braces for more cuts. Story here.
CSIRO Chief Executive Doug Hilton has rejected an appeal from Staff Association Secretary Susan Tonks to change course and reverse planned job cuts. Full detail here.
A decision by science magazine Cosmos – a recent addition to the CSIRO Publishing stable – to produce articles generated by artificial intelligence has caused widespread concern. Report here.
The release of the overall insights of CSIRO’s recent culture survey has underscored the difficult task facing senior leaders to rebuild confidence in the organisation’s strategic direction. More here.
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The impact of the Enterprise Services restructure on CSIRO workplace health and safety has come into focus, with union representatives concerned that risks associated with hundreds of job cuts – particularly due to increased workloads – are not being adequately assessed. More here.
Staff Association and Executive representatives have met as part of Consultative Council, a key forum to ensure accountability. The agenda covered similar ground to that mapped out in the Corporate Plan, which charts a challenging operating landscape for CSIRO. Report here.
CSIRO has confirmed that a controversial artificial intelligence trial at science magazine Cosmos has been paused. The revelation came on the same day the National Science Statement sounded a cautious note on the advance of generative artificial intelligence. Story here.
The Albanese government was warned that excluding questions on sexual orientation and gender identity from the census could increase feelings of exclusion in the LGBTQ+ community and even risk the success of the data collection exercise. Full story here.
CSIRO Staff Association delegates make a big difference supporting members in the workplace by providing information, advice and support. Nominations are now open for workplace delegate positions. You must be a financial member of the union to volunteer. Find out more here.
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CSIRO Executive have confirmed any further cuts to research jobs will be deferred until June 2025, admitting the ongoing impact of the Enterprise Services restructure. Meanwhile the situation has caught the attention of federal politicians, with CSIRO funding in the spotlight. Story here.
It’s an election year in 2025, so Science meets Parliament arrives early. Held in Canberra between 12-13 February, next year’s program marks the twenty-fifth edition of the event. Staff Association members and delegates are invited to submit an expression of interest to attend. More here.
Christmas and the summer holidays can be an expensive time of year. However, union members have access to an extensive range of benefits, services and discounts across a broad range of products and services. Find out more by attending an information session.
The CSIRO Staff Association awards several scholarships each year to eligible members; another great benefit of union membership. The program is designed to support development of skills and qualifications in the workplace. More here.
A quick reminder of your invitation to attend. Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held at 2.30pm (AEDT) Wednesday 4 December 2024 by video conference (Teams). The AGM enables accountability by reporting on the union’s operations and finances. Event info here.