Industrial disputes & news - 26 March 2025
Healthscope; Avalon security; Metro buses; Vic public sector mental health workers; Noosa City Council; SA disability support workers; Frankston Concrete; Maurice Blackburn; Nestle & QLD public sector
NSWNMA - Healthscope
A series of 26 hour strikes by nurses and midwives at private hospitals run by Healthscope are underway. Newcastle Private Hospital and Hunter Private Hospital kicked off the strike wave on Thursday last week (20/3); with Northern Beaches Private hospital following on Monday (24/3). Norwest Private Hospital will strike on Friday (28/3). This follows an attempt at taking strike action in February that was quashed by the FWC. NSWNMA members are fighting for a 15% pay increase in 1 year. This is to reach pay parity with Healthscope nurses in Queensland who are paid 16% more than their NSW counterparts. Healthscopes best offer to date is only 13% over 3 years. Nurses and midwives are also fighting for ratios; improved leave and an increase to night shift penalty rates.
UWU - Avalon Security Guards
Security guards at Avalon airport are taking industrial action in pursuit of a better deal. Workers are fighting for a better pay deal, as well as job security. At present, if a flight is cancelled - workers are told to go home and are not paid for the full shift. Workers also have concerns about safety - whether these concerns are related to the recent attempted hijacking of a Jetstar flight by a teenager, or more everyday safety issues, I am not sure.
RTBU Tasmania - Metro buses
RTBU members at Metro buses in Hobart implemented an indefinite work ban on collecting fares. The action comes in response to an spate of robberies and assaults. On Friday (21/3) a union HSR issued a cease work directive to not collect fares which “removes a well-established escalation point”. The RTBU wants the Government to speed up the roll out of a statewide deployment of Transit Officers, with powers to issue fines and detain offenders, which was committed to over 2 years ago. RTBU members secured a new EBA with Metro late last year which included “critical incident leave” which gives drivers 3 days leave after a serious incident. As reported last week, this is the latest in a string of union action following assaults of bus drivers - with bus drivers in Canberra, Newcastle and now Hobart all facing increased safety concerns at work. Make sure to give your bus driver a big cheery thank you today! Every worker should be safe at work.
ANMF/HACSU Vic - Public sector mental health workers
Industrial action by ANMF and HACSU members in public sector mental health continues. According to an ANMF update, bargaining meetings have been ongoing, and the ANMF expect an offer to be made this week. Consequently, the ANMF has called a statewide members meeting this Friday (28/3) to either discuss the revised offer, or next steps. Would love to hear from any mental health workers for more updates on the bargaining process.
AWU QLD/The Services Union - Noosa City Council
Missing from my reporting on the dispute at the Noosa City Council was that members of the AWU also participated in the industrial action last Wednesday (19/3). AWU organiser Michael Anderson shared that negotiations had stalled after the Council put forward an unsatisfactory pay offer. The offer leaves workers struggling to keep up with the cost of living, but also struggling to keep up with workers at the neighbouring councils of Gympie, the Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay. Workers are likely to take industrial action again tomorrow (27/3).
UWU SA - Disability support workers
Disability support workers in SA have been undertaking industrial action in the form of work bans for over a month. Over the last week, UWU members have escalated their bans, targeting management. The bans restrict administrative tasks, limit communications during unpaid times and increased chalking of campaign slogans on vans. Workers are calling on Premier Malinauskas to ensure public sector disability support workers are paid the same as those in the private sector, and that the SA Government passes on the funding it receives from the federal government for workers’ wages.
AWU Victoria - Frankston Concrete Products
Workers at Frankston Concrete Products held a two hour work stoppage last week after months of stalled negotiations. When AWU members then tried to return to work, management sent everyone home for the day. Workers are fighting for a fair deal - 4% annual wage increases; better redundancy protections and improved classification rates and conditions. Not to be discouraged, workers will be doubling down and holding a 4 hour stoppage this Thursday (27/3).
ASU - Maurice Blackburn
It is understood that workers from Maurice Blackburn met yesterday to discuss a revised offer from management. Hopefully I will have a full report on this next week. Stay tuned!
AMWU/ETU Vic - Nestle
Workers at Nestle in Broadford and Campbellfield have accepted an in-principle agreement. The agreement includes wage increases of 5%, 4.5% and 4% - an improvement from Nestle’s original offer of 3.5% each year. The most contentious item in the negotiations was Nestle’s attempt to implement a 24/7 roster. The unions and employer have apparently landed at a compromise position that a 24/7 roster can only be implemented if workers fail to provide coverage for 12 shifts in any 12 week period.
Queensland Public Sector Workers - Queensland Government
It looks like the Queensland Government may face some challenges over its wages policy. The current public sector wide offer to workers is a 3% wage increase this year followed by 2.5% increases in 2026 and 2027. The nurses and midwives agreement is the first to expire at the end of March, and QNMU members have been meeting across the state and voting down the government’s wages policy. The Courier Mail has reported that the Police Minister has opted to commence negotiations with the police union outside of the central wages policy; which triggered the Firefighters’ Union to knock on the door of the Minister for Fire, Disaster Recovery and Volunteers and demand the same option to negotiate separately. The Firies State Secretary said he was “bewildered” by the low ball offer. The QTU’s Secretary said “The QTU is prepared for a transparent and robust process in securing a deal.” Meanwhile QCU General Secretary Jacqueline King said unions were committed to central wage policy, and warned against side negotiations. Any Queensland public servants reading this? Would love to hear your thoughts!
That’s all I’ve got this week. Please make sure you’re extra nice to your bus driver this week! I feel like I am preaching to the choir on this one, but let’s all get on board with making bus drivers feel safe and respected.
In solidarity, Sarah