THE management at SPC have responded to comments made by the ACTU and the AMWU regarding their position on vaccinations for employees who work there.
“We are very disappointed by the AMWU’s statement regarding our decision. We find several sections of their statement:
Misleading and lacking in an understanding of the union’s role versus business owners and directors
Designed to create fear and confusion among our employees and the broader community – the people they purport to represent
Aim to maintain the union’s relevancy rather than servicing its members
Ignore the advice from the World Health Organisation and other leading health organisations regarding the threat the Delta’s strain poses due to its transmissibility
We firmly reject the AMWU’s assertion that they were not properly consulted in our vaccine mandate. This mandate is a business decision to ensure the safety of our staff as well as the broader community. It is the responsibility of the directors of the business (who are also liable) to provide a safe working environment, not the union.
We have consulted, and will always consult, with our local union officials in line with our Enterprise Agreement regarding the best way to implement our decision, not in the formation of our business’s decision. We will continue to take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of our people as we have throughout the pandemic.
The assertion made by Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary Sally McManus that vaccinations are a “slippery slope” to businesses mandating medical procedures is unfounded.
A number of Australian businesses have required their employees to be vaccinated, for example, the flu shot, and to provide evidence of such as a condition of their employment. This is nothing new and must be viewed in the context of the Delta strain of COVID-19 which poses a new and unique threat to the safety of our staff.
Staff members who have genuine medical grounds that preclude them from being vaccinated against COVID-19 will be treated with the utmost compassion. It is in fact for this small number of individuals that it is so critical that the rest of the workforce be vaccinated.
Will the union guarantee our staff’s safety if an unvaccinated staff member, contractor or visitor infects our SPC family?
Throughout the pandemic, we have prioritised the safety and wellbeing of our staff and Safety First remains one of our company’s primary values.
SPC has met and continues to meet its obligations under the Work Health and Safety Act, and we will continue to align our practices with the Human Rights Act and Federal and State Discrimination Laws.
The reception from the vast majority of our staff has been positive and we remain committed to working with both the union and our staff throughout this process.
We are regularly speaking with our staff, offering them assistance as required and encouraging them to discuss their individual circumstances with their GP when making a decision regarding which vaccine is right for them. “
