Enterprise Agreement ballots - were employees informed of what data about them was used in the ballot?
Dear Department of Employment,
Through a previous FOI request, you have indicated the department has used certain information relating to your employees to conduct your enterprise agreement ballots for at least one enterprise agreement proposed under either the governments current bargaining policy or the one before it.
In one or more of your ballots, I have determined you passed on information about your employees that goes beyond the minimum required in order to conduct the ballots.
This may include information such as classification level, branch within the department, employment type, etc.
I would like to determine to what extent the department explained to employees what information about them was required for ballots, and what information about them was used in ballots.
I would also like to understand the rationale of the department in using employee information to profile employees' votes (in a breakdown of results), and I would like to know who authorised the decision to use such data.
I therefore request:
1. All documents sent to all employees which explain what information about them was passed onto the ballot provider for each ballot.
2. Any documents sent to the relevant decision maker(s) who approved the use of the data that was used in the ballots.
3. Any documents which explain the rational for obtaining breakdowns of votes
4. Any documents which mention benefits to the department or to the bargaining process in obtaining a breakdown of votes.
5. Any documents between the departmental bargaining team and the departmental Executive which discuss breakdowns of votes and suggest how that information should be used or otherwise taken into consideration by the department.
6. Any documents from the APSC that mention what information about employees can or should be used in ballots.
Yours faithfully,
James Smith
Good afternoon Mr Smith
I refer to your correspondence received by the Department of Employment
(the Department) on 4 April 2017 (below) in which you requested access
under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act) to the
following:
1. All documents sent to all employees which explain what information
about them was passed onto the ballot provider for each ballot.
2. Any documents sent to the relevant decision maker(s) who approved the
use of the data that was used in the ballots.
3. Any documents which explain the rational for obtaining breakdowns of
votes
4. Any documents which mention benefits to the department or to the
bargaining process in obtaining a breakdown of votes.
5. Any documents between the departmental bargaining team and the
departmental Executive which discuss breakdowns of votes and suggest how
that information should be used or otherwise taken into consideration by
the department.
6. Any documents from the APSC that mention what information about
employees can or should be used in ballots.
The Department will advise you if a charge is payable to process your
request and the amount of any such charge as soon as practicable.
Please note that information released under the FOI Act may be published
in a disclosure log on the Department’s website. Section 11C of the FOI
Act requires this publication, however it is subject to certain
exceptions, including where publication of personal, business,
professional or commercial information would be unreasonable.
Should you have any queries about this matter, please do not hesitate to
contact me via email: [1][email address].
Yours sincerely
James Ramsay
Information Law Team
Information Law, Practice Management and Corporate Advising Branch
Australian Government Department of Employment
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Good afternoon Mr Smith
Please find attached the charge notice in relation to your request, dated
4 April 2017, under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth).
Kind regards
James Ramsay
Information Law Team
Information Law, Practice Management and Corporate Advising Branch
Australian Government Department of Employment
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