The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and The Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) have responded to SPC's move to mandate vaccination for all staff by end November, agreeing that such a call needed to come with proper consultation. SPC CEO Robert Giles has defended the company's position.
SPC's controversial announcement last week that it would be mandating vaccination for all staff, and for visitors to its sites in Shepparton, has evoked a strong response from Australian trade unions.
ACTU secretary Sally McManus said that unions would support mandatory vaccines if it came from a public health order.
“Only public health experts should be responsible for mandating vaccines, not individual employers,” she stated. “Many employers across the country are taking a different approach and instead doing what they can to support employees getting vaccinated by ensuring they have paid leave, especially for casuals if they have routine side effects. This will be the most effective, conflict free way of maximising the number of people who choose to get vaccinated and we would encourage all employers to do the same.”
The Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) said SPC failed to properly consult with the union over the demand, adding that the company was required by law to consult on any planned major change to health and safety.
AMWU assistant state secretary Victoria Jason Hefford said that while the SPC was offering paid vaccination leave was a positive step, there were broader questions around timeline and banning workers that lack proper consultation.
“The issue isn’t people’s willingness to get the vaccine, it’s accessibility. The responsibility for the Morrison Government’s failing rollout shouldn’t be shifted onto the shoulders of working people. If workers are expected to get jabs in their arms, then we need to ensure the true barriers are removed,” said Hefford. “Mandating vaccination in workplaces needs to be based on the advice of health professionals and a proper risk assessment – not just a poorly consulted plan by bosses.”
SPC CEO Robert Giles said the AMWU’s claims were baseless and called on the union to stand “shoulder to shoulder” with SPC to protect employees and ensure a safe work environment.
“The health and safety of our employees remain our number one priority. We reject the AMWU’s claims, we alerted both our staff and the union yesterday in line with our legal requirements.
The AMWU said SPC’s timeline was unrealistic, saying some employees were still not eligible or otherwise unable to access the vaccine.
Giles said SPC was looking at “all options” including a pop-up clinic to make it as easy as possible for staff, adding that a vaccination hub was “around the corner” from the SPC facility.
“We will continue to consult with staff on a case-by-case basis to make it as easy as possible for our staff to get vaccinated by the deadline,” Giles said.
In a 7news report yesterday, SPC has since accused the worker’s union of trying to create “fear and confusion” after proposing to mandate.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said no government would create laws to mandate vaccinations.
