Industrial disputes & news - 4 September 2024

Victoria University; Don KR; AFP; Bolton Clarke; Alliance Airlines Brisbane; Ambulance Victoria; NSW, Vic & Tas nurses; VicPol; Ramsay Health; Central Highlands Council; Tas Catholic teachers & more

NTEU Victoria - Victoria University

NTEU members at Victoria University have been stood down as a result of undertaking protected work bans. Last week, the NTEU notified Victoria University that union members would be commencing two weeks of work bans. This included 1 week (2-6 September) of teaching bans for academic staff; and 2 weeks (2-13 September) of systems bans for academic and professional staff. VU’s response was the nuclear option advising the union that “the University will not accept partial performance of a staff member’s normal duties. Therefore, those employees who choose to participate in work bans will not be paid for each day that they participate in any ban action.” In short, Victoria University has locked out workers. The EBA at VU expired 2 years ago, and negotiations have dragged on for 1 year. Management refuses to budge on several key claims including an end to the double-block teaching model for academic staff; improvements to flexible work options and working from home rights; and the recognition of cultural load through a workload reduction for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff. Workers have previously held a 2 hour stop work and a half day strike. NTEU members at VU will be meeting today to work out their next steps. 

ETU Vic/AMWU - Don KR Castlemaine

Workers at the Don KR smallgoods factory in Castlemaine commenced an indefinite strike on Thursday 29 August. Bosses at the factory have a history of not consulting with workers, bullying and doing a bad job of running the business. An alarmingly long list of entitlements are currently at risk including backpay; family violence leave; penalty rates; RDOs; access to leave; consultation and job protection clauses. I have also heard reports that workers on temporary skill shortage visas were employed at Don and treated poorly. No wonder workers have gone on strike to demand a better, and fairer, deal.  Labour hire firms are actively recruiting for strikebreakers, so spread the word about this dispute so workers don’t inadvertently scab.

AFPA - AFP

Last Tuesday, (27/8) AFP cops walked off the jobs at 7 airports around the country. This was followed by 2 hour stopwork actions at a range of sites across Canberra on Wednesday (28/8). This represents an escalation in the AFPA’s campaign for an improved pay increase. The Association is calling for a 20% increase over 3 years, higher than the CPSU negotiated APS deal of 11.2% over 3 years. The increased industrial action was not publicised in advance for security reasons but was described by the Association as “disruptive and costly”. 

ANMF Vic - Bolton Clarke

The ANMF is urging members to vote no on Bolton Clarke’s proposed EBA. Bolton Clarke is doing its best to convince workers to vote yes including handing out cupcakes and running a competition where the work site that gets the most yes votes gets $1500 towards their Christmas party.  They are also misleading workers about the deal. ANMF members have been taking industrial action at Bolton Clarke since 15 July, most recently a 2 hour stop work on Friday 23 August. Voting on Bolton Clarke’s subpar agreement opened on Monday (2/9) and closes tomorrow, with results revealed on Friday. If you or a comrade work at Bolton Clarke, make sure to vote no!

AMWU QLD - Alliance Airlines Brisbane

Maintenance workers at Alliance Airlines Brisbane have commenced industrial action for the first time. Workers are fighting for improved wages, better conditions, and action on understaffing and job security.

VAU -  Ambulance Victoria

A briefing note written by former Ambulance Victoria CEO Jane Millar noted that ongoing industrial action was “significantly impacting” Ambulance Victoria’s financial sustainability. Despite the financial impact; the EBA expiring 7 months ago and 20 months of negotiation, no agreement has been reached. Ambulance ramping and involuntary overtime remain huge issues for paramedics across the state. Meanwhile new Ambulance Victoria CEO Andrew Crisp commenced in late August, but almost immediately headed off on 7 weeks leave to go hiking in Corsica. I bet some of the paramedics working dangerously long shifts would love a break too. 

NSWNMA - Public sector nurses & midwives

“You are paying 2024 bills with 2008 wages - you deserve a 15% pay rise and they need to find a way to pay for it.” These are the words of Michael Whaites the Assistant General Secretary of the NSWNMA, as he addressed one of “almost 100” short strikes held across NSW in the last week of August. Nurses and midwives stepped up their campaign in response to the Minns Government’s failure to make a decent pay offer. In addition to the stopwork actions, nurses are “working to rule” and implementing workbans.

TPAV - Victoria Police

Victorian cops re-commenced industrial action this week by alerting the general public to speed cameras; drawing slogans on cop cars and putting posters up in police stations. This renewed industrial campaign follows TPAV delegates voting up a redrafted log of claims that includes 6% annual wage increases over the next four years and an end to unpaid work at the start and end of shifts. It would appear that police, firefighters and paramedics have all been inspired by the Victorian nurses’ campaign and are now prepared to buckle in for better wage increases. In June, TPAV made an in-principle agreement with Victoria Police which included a 16% wage increase over 4 years as well as implementing the “9 hours shifts, 9 day fortnights” model. This offer was rejected by 57% of members in July.

NSWNMA - Ramsay Health

Nurses at Strathfield, Kareena and St George Private hospitals walked off the job for 4 hours on 29 August. A number of workbans are also in place. The nurses, all employed by Ramsay Health, are fighting for an 18% wage increase over 3 years and nurse/patient ratios. 72% of Ramsay’s workforce voted against management’s improved offer of 12.5% over 3 years. 

The Services Union - Central Highlands Council

Workers at the Central Highlands Council commenced industrial action on Monday 2 September. The action follows the Council’s revised offer falling short of workers’ expectations - 4% annual increases; a $2000 signing bonus but no to all other claims.  Workers are demanding 8% in the first year; 5% in the second and 2% in the third year of the agreement. This is the first time workers at the Council have taken industrial action. The Council has applied to the QIRC for “assistance” in resolving the dispute.

ANMF Vic - Public Sector Nurses & Midwives

The ballot for the 2024-2028 public sector nurses and midwives EBA will run from Monday 16 September through to 5pm Friday 20 September. The 7-day access period for nurses and midwives to analyse the agreement starts next week on Monday 9 September. If you want a reminder of the ins and outs of the EBA campaign, I strongly recommend reading Hollie Moly’s article We are the union: member reflections on the ANMF (Vic Branch) 24-28 enterprise bargaining campaign.

ANMF Tasmania - Public sector nurses and midwives

Nurses in Tasmania’s public hospitals are holding stop work actions this week in an escalation of their industrial campaign. Nurses at the Royal Hobart Hospital kicked off the week of action yesterday, to be followed by action at North West Regional Hospital in Burnie and Mersey Community Hospital in Latrobe on Thursday (5/9) and Launceston General Hospital on Friday (6/9). The action is largely in response to understaffing, a lack of resourcing and unreasonable workloads.

PSA NSW - Child protection officers

On Tuesday (2/9), Child protection officers in NSW took a half day strike. Workers are protesting chronic understaffing, staff burnout and the terrible outcomes that means for children at risk. The PSA reports that only 1 in 5 children who are reported as being at Risk of Serious Harm are being seen by caseworkers. 4 in 5 kids are not seen at all. Workers are demanding the Minns government recruit another 500 caseworkers; give caseworkers an immediate “substantial” pay rise and de-privatise foster care. In a development welcomed by the union, Kate Washington (Minister for Famillies and Communities) announced that the government would move towards banning “the use of unaccredited emergency accommodation” - such as caravan parks, hotels and motels for kids in the foster care system. The PSA described this as “the first of many steps”.

CFMEU - ALP/ACTU/Administration/Bosses

The CFMEU is now under administration, and at least two paths of resistance are being traversed. Last Thursday 29/8 a new “union-community” group was launched in Melbourne in defence of the CFMEU. Taking its name from the campaign that supported the BLF during its deregistration Defend the Unions - Defend the CFMEU held its inaugural meeting at the MUA offices. Six motions were passed including demanding the legislation be repealed; administrators be removed and sacked officials be reinstated. The next meeting is at the MUA on 11 September. For more updates, follow the campaign on social media. In a different approach, recently sacked officials of the CFMEU have launched a High Court challenge claiming the legislation is unconstitutional. The legal action was launched by former Queensland State Secretary Michael Ravbar and former Queensland Assistant State Secretary Kane Lowth They have assembled an impressive legal team composed of Brett Walker SC, Craig Lenehan SC, Christopher Tran and Naomi Wootton. The challenge is being financially supported by a number of unions including the ETU, UFU, AMWU, RTBU and PPTEU.

IEU Tasmania - Catholic School teachers

After less than 2 days of industrial action, the IEU reached an in-principle agreement with the Tasmanian Catholic Education Office. It appears many of the major demands have been met including no forced transfers between schools; pay parity with government schools; workload reduction; and improved parental leave. One demand that was not addressed in the communications announcing the in-principle agreement was ensuring the rights of consultative committees remain intact. The final agreement will now be drafted and go to a vote of teachers in October.

TWU Victoria

The TWU National Council met on Tuesday and “disbanded” the Victorian/Tasmanian Branch of the union. This follows and independent inquiry by former judge Frank Marks into allegations against Branch Secretary Mem Suleyman.  While it was found the allegations against Suleyman were unfounded, the investigation found the Victorian branch had “significant operational and cultural problems”. If any TWU members reading are keen to share their thoughts on this - please get in touch. 

HWU Victoria

And in more Victorian union branch news, Diana Asmar’s (Secretary of the HWU) lawyers have asked for Federal Court proceedings brought by the Fair Work Commission to be paused as criminal charges are “on the cards” for the same offences. It is alleged that Asmar fraudulently claimed more than $120,000 in business expenses and authorised more than $2.7 million in phantom printing invoices. If any HWU members reading are keen to share their thoughts - please get in touch.

That’s all I’ve got this week. Thanks to all the workers getting in touch and providing updates on what’s going on in their industry, union, or workplace. Your generosity in sharing updates with me is essential to getting this little newsletter out each week. If a dispute is kicking off in your workplace or industry, or if you’re a TWU or HWU member who wants to share your perspective on recent union turmoil - please do get in touch.

In solidarity, Sarah