TRMC advocates for govt to make print essential

The Real Media Collective has called on the national cabinet to clearly acknowledge and include the overall industry and its workers in its determination of essential service guidelines and protocols for exempting isolating employees.

TRMC says this would ensure vaccinated asymptomatic workers could, where necessary and agreed, attend work. Many industries are currently facing high staff shortage levels as staff a forced to isolate as close contacts, even if they are vaccinated and have no Covid symptoms.

Since Christmas, supply chain and essential service stresses have increased due to a significant number of workers across all industries having to isolate for seven days or longer who have been considered close contacts under the various state public health orders.

Kellie Northwood, CEO at The Real Media Collective said, “If an isolating worker is deemed critical for operations, and is fully vaccinated and asymptomatic, industry members need to have the option available to discuss the appropriateness of that worker leaving isolation and returning to work under strict health and safety protocols. Through implementing the Printing and Distribution Protocols developed by the Collective in 2020 and updated last year, our industry has managed the health and safety of its workforce, and minimised any risks. Government needs to recognise this fact and include our industry in its deliberations on these issues.

“Given the effects of the Omicron variant on the national workforce, particularly in the supply chain of critical goods and services, the Collective has called on the national cabinet to include our industry in any determination of essential services and functions and related workers. Our industry is an essential service and an essential service supply chain provider across the Australian economy,” she commented.

“The Collective has worked hard over the last two years to ensure governments at all levels recognise this fact. This has generally ensured our members and the greater industry have been able to remain open for business even during lockdown periods,” added Northwood.