As we approach the end of a challenging, often difficult year in CSIRO, Staff Association Secretary Susan Tonks reflects on what councillors, delegates and members have achieved together in 2024.
It was a positive start to the year with CSIRO staff voting to approve a new Enterprise Agreement featuring improved conditions, including stronger delegates rights, increased access to parental leave, new workforce engagement rules including pre-decision consultation and superannuation equity, regardless of fund.
However, that optimistic beginning proved short lived. In February, Chief Executive Doug Hilton revealed the Enterprise Services (ES) restructure project, with a stated aim to reduce operating costs by 25 per cent.
Research job cuts then followed in Health and Biosecurity (Human Health), Agriculture and Food as well as Manufacturing.
As the ES restructure rolls on, CSIRO is on track to cut the full time equivalent of up to five hundred support positions, on top of an estimated two hundred term jobs that have been left to expire.
These are the organisation’s worst job losses in a decade and it hurts deeply to see the CSIRO careers of so many talented and dedicated colleagues, cut short.
The work our union has undertaken to support individual members in the workplace facing potential redundancy has been incredibly important.
It’s worth noting that newly won consultation improvements have meant that the rights of individual members have been upheld, corners have not been cut and redundancy procedures have been held accountable.
In practical terms, this has meant securing more time to maximise redeployment opportunities and, in some cases, mitigating cuts and saving jobs.
Union delegates and organisers should be very proud of their tireless commitment supporting and representing our members throughout the ES restructure processes. I know, I am.
When it comes to securing increased and sustainable CSIRO funding, the campaign continues. We’ve worked hard throughout the year to highlight the impact of job cuts to the media and the public.
Staff Association councillors and senior delegates have advocated for CSIRO jobs directly by meeting with federal politicians and that’s led to the issue being raised throughout various parliamentary forums, in both the House of Representatives and Senate.
With an election due in the first half of next year, we’ll keep the pressure on all parties to commit to increasing CSIRO funding while safeguarding the organisation’s scientific integrity and commitment to public good research.
My sincere thanks to Staff Association Council and Executive, bargaining negotiators, workplace delegates, union members, as well as our organisers and support staff for your combined efforts throughout the year.
Please accept my best wishes for the festive season. For many colleagues, the new year beckons with uncertainty.
However, our dedication to the values of solidarity and mutual support can make a real difference. Look out for each other as best you can.
In unity,
Susan
Susan Tonks is the Secretary of the CSIRO Staff Association.
