Union takes on Salvos for failure to pay

A UNION is seeking redundancy payments for Salvation Army workers after the loss of a government contract.

Residential care for at-risk young people in Tasmania had been provided by the Salvation Army in the South and Anglicare in the North.

The organisations lost the contract at the end of last month.

The Salvation Army said it meant the loss of about 45 workers.

“These workers had been employed for many years on contracts, but the Salvation Army are claiming they have no requirement to pay redundancies,” Health and Community Services Union assistant secretary Robbie Moore said.

“Given that workers entitlements are not being transferred to the new provider, it’s a lose-lose for workers.

“As a result of the Salvation Army refusing to pay redun- dancies, HACSU will pursue justice for these workers through the Fair Work Commission.”

But Salvation Army divisional commander Ritchie Watson said that under the Fair Work Act there was no requirement to pay the redundancies.

The staff were on fixedterm contracts for a specific purpose.

Mr Watson said it was a blow to lose the contract and the employees.

“We were very disappointed to lose the contract and to lose who we regard as extremely good staff,” he said.

Employees were able apply for other positions.

Anglicare said it

to

gave redundancies to 40 staff because of the government contract ending, and another nine were redeployed in Anglicare. The staff were either permanent staff or long-term casuals.

CatholicCare Tasmania, formerly Centacare Tasmania, won the contract.

It said its new Therapeutic Out of Home program provided casual employment for youth workers and key workers.

“It is anticipated that some positions will move to permanent status in the future,” Archdiocese of Hobart business manager Ron Ward said.

Managers, regional coordinators and therapeutic specialists were permanent.

The program was “committed to delivering exceptional outcomes for its clients through the delivery of evidence-based therapeutic care practices”.

michelle.paine@news.com.au