Job Classifications                    

Open Letter on Classifications

The CSIRO Staff Association has noted with concern, the increasingly apparent underclassificationn of many new positions that have been advertised in the organization. This developing problem is becoming increasingly noticeable at the more junior levels of employment, where staff are being appointed to positions at classification points that fail to consider their qualifications and previous employment experience. 

In a bid to remedy this unacceptable situation, the CSIRO Staff Association has written to the members of the CSIRO Executive Team, divisional Chiefs and people development managers, calling for transparency and accountability in accordance with fair classification and appointment practice. link

In addition, the CSIRO Staff Association encourages reports of these described practices, to be made from staff members to delegates, to the Association, so we can proactively address this developing issue of of classification system abuse. 

CEO response to open letter

The CSIRO Chief Executive Officer has made a response on behalf of all divisional Chiefs, confirming the People Development Managers' belief, that all Divisions have established procedures to ensure that the recruitment practices within CSIRO are consistent with CSIRO policy and Award obligations.

The letter goes on to suggest that in the instances of staff finding disagreement with their classification standard, the available review mechanisms should be utilised on a case by case basis, through the People Development Manager of the Division in question. link

Our response 

This approach to such an unacceptable appointment practice, fails to consider that staff who are appointed on fixed term contracts, are unable to utilise the "review mechanisms", as fixed term appointments do not provide scope for promotions and therefore, underclassification corrections.   

Failure to respond appropriately to this growing trend of classification abuse - on an organisational level, undermines all staff.  In particular, it serves to further undermine the already lower paid and least secure staff in the organisation. Indeed, the only staff who are immune to the unacceptable vagaries of this practice, are those on Executive contracts.