ANMF (Vic Branch) is working hard to meet a 15 October deadline to conclude mental health enterprise agreement discussions.
Twice-weekly meetings are being held with the employers’ representative, the Victorian Health Industrial Association (VHIA), the Department of Health and Human Services and the Health and Community Services Union.
On 30 September the ANMF (Vic Branch) held an online meeting with delegates across the state giving an update on the negotiations in which parties are discussing more than 80 ANMF claims.
Many claims are based on the 2020–24 general public sector nurses and midwives agreement with the expectation that the 44 agreed claims, where relevant, will flow to nurses working in mental health services
At the meeting, mental health nurse members were told that ANMF (Vic Branch) would keep pressing for claims relating to the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System Interim report including the reintroduction of standalone mobile support teams and crisis assessment and treatment (CATT) teams. Also claims to give certainty about staffing of bed based units, as well as for nurses in community mental health teams, were being pursued, some of which were not supported by any other party at the negotiating table
Members passed a resolution noting the progress made in negotiations since former Fair Work Commissioner David Gregory was appointed as mediator from 13 August and the number of items agreed in principle. In addition, delegates supported the aim of reaching an outcome as close to the nominated date of 15 October, as has been agreed by all the parties.
The resolution also noted the volume of work still to be undertaken and directed the ANMF to hold a further update meeting with the negotiations outcome.
