Darebin MCH nurses holding placards outside Preston Town Hall during a stop-work rally in June 2023. Photo: Natalie Pestana
Darebin City Council maternal and child health nurses and immunisation nurses have voted to reject the council’s unfair enterprise bargaining agreement offer and vow to escalate their protected industrial action.
The nurses have been taking protected industrial action since 18 May after eight months of negotiations between the ANMF (Vic Branch) and Darebin City Council reached a stalemate.
In September the council began a formal ballot process to accept their offer. ANMF encouraged members to vote no on the grounds that the offer failed to recognise a fair pay rise and improved conditions. Sixty-six per cent of the nurses voted down the agreement.
ANMF will now seek to get Darebin City Council to return to the negotiating table to continue talks, while members are likely to continue or increase their protected industrial action.
Members are encouraged to show their support by sending an email to Darebin City Council CEO Peter Smith to resolve this dispute and offer fair pay and conditions that reflects the important work these nurses do with local families. Your details will remain private.
Key facts
Members have been seeking, among other claims, a wage 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.
