The final 2016 EBA members meeting.
As we look to casting our vote at the ballot box come 24 November, it’s worth taking a stroll down memory lane.
Members may recall the vast difference between the bitter 2011–12 enterprise agreement campaign and its short and sweet counterpart in 2016.
In 2011–12 ANMF (Vic Branch) members’ nine-month campaign for the Liberal National Coalition’s Baillieu government to ‘Respect our work’ included taking protected industrial action, closing one in three beds, mass rallies and hospital walk-outs.
It was The Age that exposed the government’s plot to save $104 million per year by removing our hard-won nurse/midwife: patient ratios, and replacing nurses with unqualified nursing assistants.
It took 17 more weeks of rallies, walk-outs and threats of mass resignations from dedicated nurses and midwives united as members of the ANMF for then-Health Minister David Davis to back down.
Cut to 2014 and Daniel Andrews, as Opposition Leader, is signing his name to a commitment to legislate public sector nurse/midwife: patient ratios before an audience of applauding ANMF (Vic Branch) members.
Elected in November 2014, Mr Andrews, and Jill Hennessy as Health Minister, were true to their word. The Safe Patient Care Act took effect from 23 December 2015. With ratios enshrined in law, they could never again be used by Victorian governments as a bargaining chip in EBA negotiations.
The Andrews Government’s respect for nurses and midwives was apparent as our 2016 EBA campaign ‘Value. Recognise. Reward’ got underway. We said it was time for net pay parity with our counterparts interstate, arguing that closing the pay gap would recognise and reward the skill and dedication of Victorian nurses and midwives.
Jill Hennessy agreed. Daniel Andrews agreed. Ms Hennessy ensured that senior government officials were at the table early in negotiations. Without significant industrial action, without one bed being closed and certainly no walk-outs, ANMF (Vic Branch) reached an historic agreement with the Andrews Government, achieving all claims in full or part.
And that’s why in April 2019 wages of nurses and midwives employed by the Victorian Government will lift to reach net pay parity with NSW nurses and midwives. The table below shows 2019 pay rises according to classification.
NSW nurses and midwives have access to a far less beneficial salary packaging program compared to Victorian nurses and midwives. Net pay parity with NSW is comparing after-tax income for a Victorian nurse or midwife performing the same work while taking full advantage of salary packaging options.
Victorian registered nurses and midwives will now join Victorian enrolled nurses in reaching net pay parity with their NSW counterparts. Enrolled nurses received the higher increases, around 18 to 21 per cent, in the 2011-12 enterprise agreement.
The public sector EBA wages became the benchmark for private acute sector nurses’ and midwives’ wages.
The ANMF (Vic Branch) is not affiliated with the Australian Labor Party. But the last four years of an Andrews Government has demonstrated what can be achieved within a respectful relationship. Make your vote count.
| Victorian classification | increase April 2019 |
| Grade 2 Year 1 | 3.17% |
| Grade 2 Year 2 | 4.99% |
| Grade 2 Year 3 | 6.65% |
| Grade 2 Year 4 | 8.58% |
| Grade 2 Year 5 | 10.36% |
| Grade 2 Year 6 | 11.89% |
| Grade 2 Year 7 | 13.96% |
| Grade 2 Year 8 | 15.76% |
| Grade 2 Year 9 | 13.07% |
| Grade 2 Year 10 | 10.52% |
| Clinical Nurse/ Midwife Specialist | 11.77% |
| GRADE 3A Y1 | 10.69% |
| GRADE 3A Y2 | 10.69% |
| GRADE 3B Y1 | 11.02% |
| GRADE 3B Y2 | 11.02% |
| ANUM YEAR 1 | 13.81% |
| ANUM YEAR 2 | 15.14% |
| Grade 4A, Y1 | 9.88% |
| Grade 4A, Y2 | 7.75% |
| Grade 4B, Y1 | 10.83% |
| Grade 4B, Y2 | 8.67% |
| NUM Year 1 | 14.94% |
| NUM Year 2 | 12.22% |
| NUM Year 3 | 9.65% |
| Grade 5 ADON 13-50 | 8.69% |
| Grade 5 ADON 51-200 | 11.89% |
| Grade 5 ADON 201-400 | 10.25% |
| Grade 5 ADON 401-600 | 8.71% |
| Grade 5 ADON 601+ | 4.90% |
| Grade 6 DDON 51-100 | 11.89% |
| Grade 6 DDON 101-200 | 12.81% |
| Grade 6 DDON 201-300 | 8.71% |
| Grade 6 DDON 301-400 | 19.21% |
| Grade 6 DDON 401-500 | 13.88% |
| Grade 6 DDON 501-700 | 26.72% |
| Grade 6 DDON 701+ | 20.26% |
| Grade 7 DON <13 | 22.54% |
| Grade 7 DON 13-24 | 17.94% |
| Grade 7 DON 25-50 | 13.65% |
| Grade 7 DON 51-100 | 9.67% |
| Grade 7 DON 101-200 | 4.77% |
| Grade 7 DON 201-300 | 4.87% |
| Grade 7 DON 301-400 | 3.67% |
| Grade 7 DON 401-500 | 3.40% |
| Grade 7 DON 501-600 | 5.41% |
| Grade 7 DON 601-700 | 24.27% |
| Grade 7 DON 701+ | 17.78% |
| Nurse Practitioner | |
| NP Year 1 | 15.16% |
| NP Year 2 | 13.23% |
| Enrolled Nurse | |
| EN Level 1.1 | 4.00% |
| EN Level 1.2 | 4.00% |
| EN Level 1.3 | 4.00% |
| EN Level 1.4 | 4.00% |
| EN Level 1.5 | 4.00% |
| EN Level 1.6 | 4.00% |
| EN Level 2.1 | 4.00% |
| EN Level 2.2 | 4.00% |
| EN Level 2.3 | 4.00% |
| EN Level 2.4 | 4.00% |
| EN Level 2.5 | 4.00% |
| EN Level 2.6 | 4.00% |
| EN Level 2.7** | 4.00% |
| EN Level 3.1^ | 4.00% |
| EN Level 3.2** | 4.00% |
| EN Level 3.3*** | 4.00% |
^ In Victoria only applies to those formerly got Seniors Allowance
* Advanced Certificate qualification & minimum of 6 yrs FT equivalent post enrolment experience
** Holds Administration of Medication Scope of up to four routes (Victoria only)
*** Holds Administration of Medication Scope of all five routes (Victoria only)
