Education union says casual workers should get paid for September 22 public holiday
Casual workers in the education sector who planned to work on next Thursday’s public holiday should get paid, the union says.
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Casual education staff in SA should get paid for the last-minute public holiday planned for The Queen next week so they are not left out of pocket, the union says.
Andrew Gohl, president of the Australian Education Uion SA said the public holiday on September 22 was a “blow to our lowest paid and most precariously employed staff”.
”These people are paid by the hour and of course this day means they won’t be paid and it’s something they haven’t planned for,” Mr Gohl told ABC Radio Adelaide.
Mr Gohl was referring to temporary relief teachers, support staff, aquatic instructors and other casuals in the education sector.
“These people haven’t had enough time to plan … I think really, the state should just proceed to pay these people given that they called the public holiday,” Mr Gohl said.
“These people shouldn’t be disadvantaged by that and I’m really worried by the response that really doesn’t seem to give any certainty to those groups.”
Premier Peter Malinauskas on Monday warned there would be unavoidable disruption to elective surgery and for working parents because of the public holiday on Thursday next week.
Mr Malinauskas said the Federal Government-imposed holiday and national day of mourning for all states and territories was an appropriate commemoration of Queen Elizabeth II, but would cause problems, especially for working parents.
He said the usual changes made for public holidays would be in place, including closed schools, childcare centres and banks, and penalty rates for entitled workers.
Shops will be closed until midday, but an exemption would allow larger shops to open only from noon to 9pm.
Mr Malinauskas said the extent of disruption in hospitals had not yet been evident, but the public health workforce of 40,000 would be impacted most by parents now having to find alternatives to school for their children.
He urged patients with booking not to call their hospital until arrangements became clear on Friday at the earliest.
“The state government is currently working through arrangements in public hospitals to ensure as many elective surgeries can take place as possible,’’ he said.
Mr Malinauskas said disruption would be kept to a minimum, but was unavoidable.
On Sunday Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the public holiday to mark the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
It would be a national one-off public holiday to allow people to pay their respects, he said.
Mr Malinauskas said there is no legislation against doctors and medical practices trading on a public holiday.
“It’s a simple question of whether the people working in those sectors elect to continue to work or not,” Mr Malinauskas said.
Australian Medical Association SA president Michelle Atchison said she was unclear what the public holiday meant for the health sector.
“I suppose it’s the balance between, it’s a public holiday for a reason, and some doctors and medical staff might want to make use of that reason, while balancing running a business,” she said.
“We’re very mindful that this is going to impact on patients … if we need to reschedule things it needs to be done in a timely manner for people, we can’t have people missing out on their scripts and their surgery and wait a length period of time after that.”
She urged people to give doctors and specialists time to deliberate what they would do for the public holiday, and to wait until at least Tuesday afternoon before calling to inquire about appointments.
Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association SA secretary Josh Peake said he supported the exemption but workers should discuss their options with their employer.
“I think it will be really important for us to communicate really clearly with the major employers that those who do want the day off and those that do want to have the day off to participate in the day of mourning are able to do so,” he said.
Employers who make their employees work against their will on a public holidays breach the Shop Traders Act and face a maximum $100,000 fine.
Mr Malinauskas denied the public holiday had been dictated by Victoria, which already has a public holiday on Friday September 23 for the grand final.
“The reason for the national memorial being on the Thursday … that is the quickest that can be held allowing for the governor-general and the prime minister to return back from London where they are both present in person at the Queen’s official funeral service at Westminster Abbey, he said.
Anthony Albanese has defended his decision to suspend parliament in the wake of Queen Elizabeth II’s death, insisting he was following longstanding conventions.
The Prime Minister said federal parliament will resume next Friday, one day after the National Day of Mourning public holiday, and will be dominated by condolence speeches.
Parliament will also sit for three days from Monday, September 26.
However, Mr Albanese will not be present in parliament that week as he travels to Japan for the memorial service for slain former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe.
Mr Albanese was grilled by reporters for his decision to suspend parliament, despite the UK parliament continuing after the Queen’s death last week.
“I, as Prime Minister, have followed procedures that have been in place for a lot longer than I have been in place as Prime Minister,” Mr Albanese said.
“I think there is something to be said for a Prime Minister who follows tradition, who follows protocols and who follows order. Something that I hope to define my prime ministership is respect for those traditions, that is what I have done.”
South Australian senator Simon Birmingham called for calm over parliament’s suspension, but suggested a review of procedures should take place in the future.
“The custom, the tradition here is appropriate for us to follow on this occasion,” Senator Birmingham told ABC’s RN Breakfast.
“No doubt people will look carefully at these traditions in the future and assess how they carry forward in terms of marking of significant occasions.”
Senator Birmingham said he understood concerns expressed by the Australian Medical Association, which criticised the decision to declare a public holiday on September 22 because it would cause the mass cancellation of surgeries that have been booked for months.
“I can understand the concerns, but this is a very, very significant occasion in not just our nation’s history, but in global history,” Senator Birmingham said.
“There’s a real sense of poignancy as people reflect and honour the 70 year life of Queen Elizabeth II.
“I think, again, the government is doing the best it can with the type of traditions, precedents that have been set in the past.”
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Originally published as Education union says casual workers should get paid for September 22 public holiday
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