Industrial disputes & news - 15 May 2024
Wilmar sugar; Kone; NSW child protection workers; Ambulance Victoria; Victorian nurses & midwives; AFP; City of Ballarat; Port Phillip Prison; NHP Electrical Engineering
AWU/CEPU/AMWU QLD - Wilmar sugar
Workers at Wilmar sugar mills took industrial action on Thursday (9/5) and Monday (13/5). Union reps met with the employer on Monday, but the latest pay offer was worse than the last! Workers have voted down 3 subpar offers from the bosses. The most recent of these offers was for a 13.75% increase over 4 years (5% in the first year backdated to December 2023). The unions are demanding 28% over 4 years including 12% in the first year. While Wilmar says it has asked for the FWC to assist in resolving the dispute, the AWU claims that WIlmar is refusing to bargain unless union members “revise their position and ask for less”. The pressure is on with “the crush” (annual peak production season) due to commence in June.
ETU QLD - Kone
Electricians working for subcontractor Kone on the Multiplex job at The Star Gold Coast took are taking industrial action. Workers are in dispute with Kone over job security and a sub-contracting clause in their agreement. Workers are undertaking stoppages as well as technology, paperwork and overtime bans.
PSA NSW - Child Protection Workers
NSW child protection workers participated in a statewide stop work meeting on Wednesday 8 May. Workers are protesting the failing privatised child protection system, incluidng chronic understaffing, crippling workloads, uncompetitive pay and unacceptable risk to children. The PSA NSW is demanding the government recruit an additional 500 caseworkers, give workers an immediate and substantial payrise and de-privatise foster care.
VAU/UWU - Ambulance Victoria
Union members at Ambulance Victoria will vote on 75 proposed new industrial actions in a protected action ballot that could lead to an escalation of their campaign. Industrial action tactics that are being voted on include switching to manual processes, withholding data, staff refusing to organise taxis for patient transport, communications staff refusing to move ambulances to other locations for resourcing purposes and a ban on double-loading non-emergency patients. Paramedics could also refuse to initiate Virtual Emergency Department consultations, and the training of new staff and MICA paramedics would be paused. Workers have been in negotiations with Ambulance Victoria for 15 months.
ANMF Vic - Public Sector Nurses & Midwives
Yesterday (Tuesday 14 May) was the deadline for the Victorian Government to have made an improved offer to the ANMF. On Monday, Victorian Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas didn’t provide any update to media except that negotiations were “continuing”. ANMF Branch Secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick said nurses needed “the wheels of government to start moving with a sense of urgency”. If there’s no update from the ANMF today, it is probably a safe assumption that “Stage 2” industrial action will commence at 7am on Friday. Stage 2 actions includes the closure of one in four beds, cancellation of one in four elective surgeries and stop work meetings.
AFPA - AFP
The AFPA is seeking legal advice about federal cops withdrawing their “labour” at airports and Parliament House as a potential escalation in their industrial action. Current industrial action measures include wearing a wristband and lanyard, putting up posters, not completing vehicle logbooks and not volunteering for duties outside of core responsibilities. AFPA seems particularly cross that federal aviation firefighters were offered a $6000 one off payment, whilst AFP cops have only been offered $871.
ASU A&S Victoria/AWU - City of Ballarat
Industrial action continues at the City of Ballarat with a range of work bans under way. Workers are not handing out parking fines; messages about the industrial action are being put in council building windows’ and on council vehicles; and some street cleaning works will be stopped. The unions are yet to press on possibly the most effective lever - bin collection.
CPSU Vic - G4S (Port Phillip Prison)
Three quarters of workers at Port Phillip Prison voted down a proposed agreement put forward by contractor G4S, and over 90% of union members at the prison voted in favour of taking industrial action. With negotiations stalled, industrial action is likely and could include ignoring phone calls, emails or messages from G4S management, stopping work for up to 24 hours, allowing workers to speak more freely to media and locking down prisoners 30 minutes earlier each day. Important for me to add here that I support prison abolition! Prisons are not safe for anyone. For more on reform and abolition check out the Justice Reform Initiative or activist and writer Mariame Kaba.
ETU Vic - NHP Electrical Engineering Products
Workers at NHP Electrical Engineering Products are in dispute with their employer, fighting for a fair pay rise. Negotiations have been going on for almost 9 months, and the boss is yet to budge from a “dismal” offer. Any sparkies in Victoria know much more about this dispute? Let me know!
That’s all I’ve got this week. It feels like maybe a bit less going on this week? If you know more about any of the disputes listed above, or other disputes that I’ve missed - I’d love to hear from you!
In solidarity, Sarah