The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and the Business Council of Australia (BCA) have united to call on the Morrison Government to implement paid pandemic leave.
In a letter addressed to Federal Attorney-General Christian Porter, the two organisations called on the Federal Government to “urgently provide for and fund a national Paid Pandemic Leave Scheme.”
The joint letter was signed by ACTU Secretary Sally McManus and BCA Chief Executive Jennifer Westacott.
The joint letter is a rare example of the two groups uniting in favour of a common initiative.
“Business and unions are committed to ensuring that work is healthy and safe for all workers, customers and visitors,“ the letter reads.
“Paid pandemic leave is now an essential public health measure that will combat the recent spike in workplace transmission”.
The two organisations are specifically asking for leave consistent with recent changes to the Nurses Award 2010 by the Fair Work Commission, as won by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation. They are also asking for the leave to be funded by Federal and State Governments in a scheme akin to the JobKeeper and paid parental leave schemes.
A recent poll conducted by the ACTU shows that this scheme carries the support of 80.8% of Australians.
Support the campaign by signing this open letter to the Prime Minister imploring him and his government to implement paid pandemic leave.