É«ÀÇÉçÇøindustrial update: casual Keepers, COVID-19 testing and a pay rise
19 July 2021
Casual Keeper pay
The É«ÀÇÉçÇøcontinues the fight to ensure casual Keepers at Taronga Zoo are paid what they deserve. On Friday 16 July the É«ÀÇÉçÇømet with Taronga to explicitly state that if the rampant underpayment of casual Keepers was not addressed promptly, we would be lodging a dispute with the Industrial Relations Commission of NSW. Taronga subsequently gave an undertaking to the É«ÀÇÉçÇøthat it will investigate the matter and return with its position by Friday 23 July.
The É«ÀÇÉçÇøwants to hear from casual Keepers currently paid at the trainee level who:
- Have 4+ years of service
- Have a Certificate III in Animal Husbandry
If you meet the criteria above, please contact your local delegate (details below) or É«ÀÇÉçÇøOrganiser Chris Bird at so that the É«ÀÇÉçÇøcan advocate for an increased rate of pay for you.
The É«ÀÇÉçÇøis also arguing that the Skillsbook should be eligible for retrospective completion by supervisors and managers for those keepers who did not have access to the book initially in their employment.
Targeted LGA compulsory COVID-19 testingÌý
The É«ÀÇÉçÇøwould like to clarify for members when they should be accessing leave and when tasks related to COVID=19testing should be considered work time. Please find below common potential scenarios and what leave, if any, you should be accessing:
The LGA in which you live has been identified for compulsory testing (either regularly or as a one-off).
In this situation the testing should be considered as work time. Do not take any personal leave for this.
You do not live in a targeted LGA, however you have developed symptoms and are getting tested.
Access sick leave.
If you are having difficulties with the above scenarios, please contact the É«ÀÇÉçÇøMember Support Centre on 1800 772 679
É«ÀÇÉçÇøwins Taronga staff pay rise
The É«ÀÇÉçÇøwould also like to congratulate all members who through the simple act of joining the É«ÀÇÉçÇøhave helped to secure an effective 2.5 per cent pay rise for themselves and a large contingent of the NSW public service.
The É«ÀÇÉçÇøwas able to advocate for members through a long and difficult fight to secure this pay rise. These annual pay rises do not occur automatically and are certainly not the result of a magnanimous management culture. The NSW Government fought the É«ÀÇÉçÇøevery step of the way until it became too politically damaging for them to ignore your union and its members any longer.
This payrise is divided into a 2.04 per cent pay increase and a 0.5 per cent superannuation increase. Congratulations and thank you to all of our Taronga members, your non-union colleagues owe you a great deal!
Please encourage your colleagues to join the É«ÀÇÉçÇøso we can continue to advocate for all Taronga Staff at
Taronga Delegates
Sydney
Claudia Bianchi cbianci@zoo.nsw.gov.auÌý
Emma Bembrick
Simon Faithfull
Toby Johnson
Dubbo
Joel Kerr Ìý
Kevin Milton
É«ÀÇÉçÇøindustrial staff
Industrial Officer Michael Sinclair
Organiser Chris Bird
Member Support Centre 1800 772 679