Darebin City Council MCH nurses stop work in June 2023. Photo: Natalia Pestana
Darebin City Council maternal and child health nurses and immunisation nurses have been taking protected industrial action since 18 May 2023 as part of their campaign for a fair pay rise.
Enterprise bargaining negotiations between the ANMF (Vic Branch) and Darebin City Council began in September 2022, but the talks reached a stalemate in May.
Members have been seeking, among other claims, a wages offer of:
- 3 per cent or $45/week, whichever the greater, from 1 July 2022
- 5 per cent or $45/week, whichever the greater, from 1 July 2023, and,
- 2 per cent or $45 or rate cap, whichever the greater, from 1 July 2024.
Council has consistently refused to meet these modest asks, instead offering a:
- 2 per cent increase or $30 a week, whichever is greater, already paid administratively from July 2022
- 3 per cent or $45 a week, whichever is greater, from July 2023
- the higher of either 2 per cent or 85 per cent per cent of the 1 July 2024 unknown rate cap or $35 a week, or $15 on each percentage of the rate cap, whichever is greater.
Council has also rejected other member claims including two 10-minute tea breaks per shift, and time during work hours to undertake mandatory CPD.
ANMF (Vic Branch) has not endorsed the latest offer, but Council has gone ahead and commenced the formal ballot process. The Branch is recommending members vote no to this offer which fails to recognise that a fair pay rise and improved conditions are key to recruiting and retaining maternal and child health and immunisation nurses.
The voting period opened on Tuesday 15 September and will close on Friday 15 September at 4pm.
What happens if members vote no?
If the offer is voted down ANMF (Vic Branch) will seek to get Darebin City Council back to the negotiating table to continue talks, while members may continue or increase their protected industrial action.
Support your colleagues
Support your ANMF colleagues by sending an email to Darebin City Council CEO Peter Smith calling on him to resolve this dispute with improved pay and conditions that respected the important work of maternal and child health nurses.
