Crown
Employees (Parliamentary Electorate Officers) Award
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
COMMISSION OF NEW SOUTH WALES
Application by Public
Service Association and Professional Officers' Association Amalgamated Union of
New South Wales, Industrial Organisation of Employees.
(No. IRC 374 of 2010)
Before Commissioner
Bishop
|
31 May 2010
|
VARIATION
1. Insert in
clause 1, Arrangement of the award, published 28 September 2007 (363 I.G. 752),
the following new clause number and subject matter:
8A. Lactation
Breaks
2. Insert after
clause 8, Hours of Work the following new clause:
8A. Lactation Breaks
(a) This clause
applies to officers who are lactating mothers.
A lactation break is provided for breastfeeding, expressing milk or
other activity necessary to the act of breastfeeding or expressing milk and is
in addition to any other rest period and meal break as provided for in this
award.
(b) A full time officer
or a part time officer working more than 4 hours per day is entitled to a
maximum of two paid lactation breaks of up to 30 minutes each per day.
(c) A part time
officer working 4 hours or less on any one day is entitled to only one paid
lactation break of up to 30 minutes on any day so worked.
(d) A flexible
approach to lactation breaks can be taken by mutual agreement between an
officer and their manager provided the total lactation break time entitlement
is not exceeded. When giving consideration to any such requests for
flexibility, a manager needs to balance the operational requirements of the
organisation with the lactating needs of the officer.
(e) The Speaker
shall provide access to a suitable, private space with comfortable seating for the
purpose of breastfeeding or expressing milk.
(f) Other suitable
facilities, such as refrigeration and a sink, shall be provided where
practicable. Where it is not practicable to provide these facilities,
discussions between the manager and officer will take place to attempt to
identify reasonable alternative arrangements for the officer’s lactation needs.
(g) Officers
experiencing difficulties in effecting the transition from home-based
breastfeeding to the workplace will have telephone access in paid time to a
free breastfeeding consultative service, such as that provided by the
Australian Breastfeeding Association’s Breastfeeding Helpline Service or the
Public Health System.
(h) Officers needing
to leave the workplace during time normally required for duty to seek support
or treatment in relation to breastfeeding and the transition to the workplace
may utilise sick leave in accordance with clause 14, Sick Leave of this award,
or access to the flexible working hours scheme provided in clause 8, Hours of
Work of this award, where applicable.
3. This
variation shall take effect from 31 May 2010.
E.
A. R. BISHOP, Commissioner
____________________
Printed by
the authority of the Industrial Registrar.