Three bargaining meetings. Three weeks. Still no answer.

That's where things stand with the departments right now.

What's actually happening

On 20 August, you and your colleagues overwhelmingly rejected the departments' offer. Together put the departments on notice about exactly what mattered, discussing a full list of priority claims covering staffing allocations and caseloads, workload management, vacancy timelines, paid overtime, no loss of ATL, cultural safety, pay parity, removal of pay scale caps, and career pathways.

The departments' response that day was to say they would "consider the matters raised."

That was three weeks ago. Since then, at every meeting, the answer has been the same: nothing.

No amended offer. No enhanced offer. Not even a position to respond to your claims with.

In their own words, at the 27 August meeting, the departments said they do "not have an amended or enhanced offer to provide."

A week later, on 3 September, it was the same response, and as of right now, there is no offer at all.

Why this matters

Union Members are doing their part. Your delegates are at the table, and told the department clearly what mattered. The departments said they would consider the issues further.

Three meetings later, they still haven't.

They know exactly what matters to you: safe workloads and caseloads, decent leave and hours, cultural safety, pay parity, career pathways, and wages that keep up.

And their response has been silence.

Meanwhile, the gap between what's on offer and what members are asking for hasn't moved, because the departments have limited their approach to having a conversation.

What your action is already doing

This is exactly why protected industrial action matters. It's the thing that turns silence into a cost the department has to reckon with.

Stage Three is now in effect. The departments are feeling it, or Youth Justice wouldn't be talking about lockouts and pressure tactics instead of talking about your claims.

Every member taking action, every conversation with a workmate who's on the fence, that's what moves departments that otherwise have nothing to say.

What we're asking

Keep talking to the people around you. Every member who understands what's happening and why is another person the department can't isolate.

If you've got a question about what Stage Three means for your role, or you want to know how to get more involved, head to the Protected Action Page.