Canon in union dispute over CSG staffing

The Australian Services Union (ASU) has filed a Fair Work Australia dispute against Canon over its plan to transfer staff to its newly signed integrator, CSG.

Last month, Canon revealed plans to transfer around 40 technicians to CSG, to support a billion-dollar multi-function device deal.

Technicians under a collective agreement with Canon expected to be consulted before their jobs were transferred, but according to the ASU, no such consultation occurred.

ASU National Industrial Officer Jo Justo told iTnews that Canon had not yet provided staff with enough information to determine if the CSG jobs would be of a similar - and not less favourable - nature.

However, some staff had already been told that they would be transferred from 1 July, she said.

"Canon has not fulfilled their obligations in terms of being transparent in the transmission process," Justo told iTnews.

The dispute was scheduled to be heard by national workplace relations tribunal Fair Work Australia (FWA) today.

While Canon could not disclose details of the FWA discussions, its senior general manager of marketing, Craig Manson, said technicians' rights were protected under its subcontracting agreement with CSG.

"Canon has openly communicated and consulted with its technician workforce and their union, the ASU," Manson told iTnews.

"We will continue to work closely with our employees, particularly those who are impacted, on managing this transition.

"Canon's values its technicians ... their employment will continue to be governed by the provisions of the Canon Technical Consultants Agreement and relevant legislation."

The ASU has advised technicians not to agree to any of Canon's transferral demands until the dispute is resolved.