Industrial disputes & news - 22 May 2024

Victorian nurses & midwives; Ventia; Victorian TAFE teachers; Saputo; Endeavour Energy; Wilmar sugar; AFP; City of Ballarat; Victoria Police; BHP.

ANMF Vic - Public Sector Nurses & Midwives

ANMF members commenced “Stage 2” industrial action on Friday (17/5), but it was suspended as the union alerted members that an in-principle agreement had been reached. At a mass meeting of members on Monday (20/5), nurses and midwives rejected the in-principle agreement. While there was support for many items in the deal, it appears that nurses and midwives were uncomfortable relying on the outcome of the aged care nursing award uplift flowing through to the EBA structure. In rejecting the in-principle agreement, many nurses and midwives sent a message that the offered annual increases (3% backdated to 1 May; 1% in June 2024; 3% in May 2025; 3% in May 2026 and 3% in May 2027) were not sufficient. The media release issued on Monday morning, including inviting media to attend the vote, certainly indicated the union thought the in-principle agreement would be endorsed. Branch Secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick was quoted as saying: “Despite our best attempts at explaining it for a very long time, our members haven’t been able to grasp the concept of the aged care wages case. So that’s a misunderstanding, unfortunately.” Fitzpatrick also commented that she hadn’t seen a deal like this rejected since she had become Branch Secretary - a position she has held since 2001. Since Monday’s mass meeting the ANMF has written to the government to request negotiations re-start. The union will visit workplaces both to support ongoing Stage 1 industrial action, as well as convening Job Rep and member meetings.

AWU Vic - Ventia

Workers at defence barracks who are employed by Ventia took industrial action last week at Puckapunyal Military Base, HMAS Cerberus Base and RAAF Williams Base. Workers are fighting for a decent wage increase and an RDO system for for fair leave access.

AEU Victoria - TAFE teachers

Since commencing industrial action largely in the form of workbans since late April, TAFE teachers have now voted to take a series of stopwork action in June and July, escalating to a 24 hour statewide stopwork on 21 August.  TAFE teachers are seeking decent wages as well as action on workload and improvement for working/learning conditions including class size. 

CEPU/AMWU Tasmania - Saputo

Workers at dairy processor Saputo in Burnie, Tasmania took industrial action again on Monday (20/5). Workers are seeking pay parity with their mainland colleagues who earn up to 21% more than workers in Tasmania. Workers have been in dispute since February.

ETU NSW - Endeavour Energy

The Fair Work Commission has granted a rare “third party” suspension order on industrial action at Endeavour Energy for 3 days at the behest of food manufacturer Manildra. Manildra alleged the ETU’s ongoing industrial action meant it could not get electricians to start new gas turbines at its Shoalhaven plant forcing it to instead pay for power from the spot market. It was found the action would cost Manildra at least $2.5 million over 3 months. Sparkies at Endeavour have been participating in industrial action since February. Branch Secretary Allen Hicks said “Unfortunately the Fair Work Commission’s decision has protected the mega profits of big business instead of upholding the rights of energy workers to fight for a fair pay increase that keeps up with the cost of living.” Manildra made $203 million profit after tax in 2022-23.

AMWU/ETU/AWU - Wilmar Sugar

Union reps for workers at Wilmar Sugar are set to have another negotiating meeting today, but went ahead with strike action again yesterday. Unions have dropped their demand from 25% to 22% over 3 years, while Wilmar increased their offer from 13.75% to 14.25% over 4 years. Workers say that this is not sweet enough!  The dispute is scheduled to head back to the FWC on 28 May.

AFPA - AFP

Members of the AFPA are currently scrutinising the revised offer presented to them, but their union has advised members to vote against the proposal describing it as “inadequete”. AFPA have also pledged that if members vote down the proposal, they will survey membership to determine what was found to be unsatisfactory prior to re-commencing bargaining. Federal cops have been taking industrial action in the form of low level workbans for several weeks

ASU A&S Vic - City of Ballarat

The ASU met with City of Ballarat bosses on Wednesday last week who rejected the union’s offer of 5%, 6% & 6% and are going to go ahead with a vote on a 3.5% increase offer. ASU members at the City of Ballarat held two rallies with school crossing supervisors at the Town Hall last week in their continued industrial campaign. Workbans (including street sweeping and litter collection) were set to “intensity” in the lead up to the Heritage Festival which was due to kick off on Friday. Workers will hold another rally tonight at 5:30pm at the Town Hall prior to the Council meeting that will decide how unallocated savings should be spent and the FY25 budget… workers have definitely got some ideas on both of those items!

TPAV - Victoria Police

The Herald Sun (so grain of salt territory here!) has alleged that the independent mediator who was tasked with brokeringa deal between PAV and Victoria Police has recommended nine-hour shifts over a nine day fortnight be phased in. Commissioner Shane Patton has spoken out against the move both in terms of the cost and risk to public safety so it is likely the matter will be handballed to Industrial Relations Victoria. There is also a chance of renewed industrial action by cops.

MEU - BHP

Train drivers in the Pilbara voted up their new EBA on 17/5 after a long dispute. The MEU members took industrial action prior to the union agreeing to an in-principle agreement. Workers have endorsed that agreement which inclues annual pay rises of 4% plus an immediate bonus of $20,000 and an additional $20,000 later in the life of the agreement. Importantly to the workers, the deal allows workers who want to keep to a “two weeks on, two weeks off” roster can do so, and BHP must have the consent of a worker to switch their roster. The Pilbara has become largely de-unionised, and the unionised train drivers at BHP are something of a rarity.

That’s all I’ve got this week. Some really interesting disputes this week - I learn so much compiling this report. It makes it obvious how complicated our industrial relations laws are, and how it can seem insummountable for an average worker to understand and participate. I truly believe that by examining disputes, past and current, we can learn how the system works, and how to fight back. I hope other workers are finding these reports useful and informative too!

In solidarity, Sarah