With Healthscope’s nurses and midwives having successfully voted down the proposed EBA, the ANMF (Vic Branch) has been focused on returning to the bargaining table to attempt to achieve an improved outcome for members.
As Healthscope has not yet agreed to meet, the ANMF has again sought the assistance of the Fair Work Commission, with a conference date now set for 17 December.
In order to progress bargaining, the ANMF has also made a counter-proposal to Healthscope, with a focus on achieving wage parity and an earlier nominal expiry date, while ensuring that back pay remains part of the deal.
PROTECTED INDUSTRIAL ACTION – THEATRE STOPPAGES – WEDNESDAY 10 DECEMBER
The ANMF has notified Healthscope that there will be protected industrial action in the form of work stoppages across theatres at all sites on Wednesday 10 December, between 11.00am and 3.00pm.
Healthscope members working in theatres may participate in stop work action from 11am-3pm that day, ensuring sufficient staff for emergency procedures remain. This may mean a contraction of the morning list and a delay to the start of the afternoon theatre list, as agreed in your campus theatres. ANMF members should liaise with each other and their ANMF Job Representative to organise this for your workplace.
As advised previously, while you are not legally required to tell your manager of your participation in the stop work, you can as a matter of courtesy let them know, and that is usually done in the public sector on the day before or morning of the stop work. Healthscope will have had five (5) clear business days’ notice of the intention to take stop work action and they know approximately how many union members there are across theatres. They can prepare for the stop work.
Do what is comfortable for you, but please note you are not obliged to disclose whether or not you are going to engage in the stop work protected industrial action.
The actions will be localised with a members meeting at each site.
The actions will be localised with a members meeting during the stop work occurring at each site.
OTHER ACTIONS
In the meantime, all other notified forms of industrial action will continue and it is crucial that all members show their support to their theatre colleagues by participating in these actions.
We would particularly like to draw your attention to the following action:
- interrupting work for up to one hour to communicate with the media, post photos online, change backgrounds on electronic communications or write a message on social media about issues relating to enterprise bargaining (having regard to patient confidentiality and s.141 of the Health Services Act).
As part of this action, members are encouraged to express their concerns both internally at Healthscope, for example by email to the CEO (tino.laspina@healthscope.com.au) and State Manager (chris.hewison@healthscope.com.au), as well as externally to media organisations and social media posts. Please be mindful to maintain professionalism when doing this.
As a general reminder, members are also able to take the following forms of action:
- Distributing and wearing ANMF campaign t-shirts, badges and stickers and interrupting work to attach campaign material to clothing.
- Stopping work for up to 10 minutes to explain to patients and visitors the purpose of the protected industrial action and handing out ‘Dear Patient’ letters about the campaign and discussing it with patients and their visitors.
- A ban on redeployment from your home ward to another ward (or campus to campus).
- Refusing to provide information regarding who is taking protected industrial action.
- A ban on overtime directed or requested by Healthscope.
- A ban on working outside ordinary starting and finish times unless overtime is approved by Healthscope in writing in advance.
- A ban on recall work for circumstances other than emergencies.
- Taking the full period of all breaks.
- A ban on attending or participating in management meetings unless fully backfilled.
- Refusing to respond to any work-related emails, telephone calls or other communication from Healthscope, including during breaks, unless the communication directly relates to patient or staff safety.
- Including the ANMF campaign message in all work-related emails (see earlier updates for the specific wording).
Members are to be commended for maintaining industrial action in pursuit of a fair and reasonable resolution to the enterprise agreement negotiations.
CAN THE ANMF HELP IF I EXPERIENCE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP AS A RESULT OF PAY DOCKING?
Yes. The ANMF operates a member Hardship Fund for those involved in protected industrial action. Importantly, this is not an income replacement fund, it may provide some support to members who face significant hardship as a result of the protected industrial action where eligible. Members who are experiencing demonstrated financial hardship and have evidence of pay docking can apply at anmfvic.asn.au/healthscopehardship
THREATS OR HARRASSMENT
It is your right under the Fair Work Act to take the forms of protected industrial including work stoppages. ‘Protected’ means you cannot be dismissed or disciplined for taking these actions.
ANMF will support members who are threatened, intimidated or harassed. To report any threats, intimidation or harassment, including those relating to pay docking, go to
anmfvic.asn.au/healthscopereport
GOT A CAMPAIGN QUESTION?
If you have any questions, please contact your local Job Rep or the ANMF Industrial Relations Organiser responsible for your site (see below) via records@anmfvic.asn.au. Please quote case ID 1083422 in the subject line.
Dorset Rehabilitation Centre – Camilla Ablitt-Collins
Geelong Clinic – Christian Sanderson
Holmesglen Private Hospital – Stephanie Bligh
John Fawkner Hospital – Lachlan Schacht
Knox Private Hospital – Linda Elliott
La Trobe Private Hospital – Julie Wearing-Smith
Melbourne Private Hospital – Lyndal Alston
Northpark Private Hospital – Julie Wearing-Smith
Ringwood Private Hospital – Linda Elliott
The Melbourne Clinic Private Hospital – Linda Elliott
Victoria Clinic Private Hospital – Narelle Hayes
Victorian Rehabilitation Centre – Jenna Bell
JOB REPS ARE ENCOURAGED TO DISPLAY THIS CAMPAIGN UPDATE ON THEIR WORKPLACE NOTICEBOARD.
