QNU Annual Report 08-09.indd - Queensland Nurses Union

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INDUSTRIAL The Nursing Consultative Forums (NCF) remained the focus for monitoring progress of the above key areas and other priority areas under NIBBIG as well as other industrial objectives under EB6. Torres Strait dispute Despite resolution of the initial dispute that occurred in early 2008 regarding safety and security issues for nurses employed on Torres Strait Outer islands, concerns continue about the ongoing sustainability and appropriateness of health services in this remote location as well as in other areas. The QNU continues to liaise with Queensland Health representatives at the corporate office and local level regarding our concerns. Queensland Health has committed to providing reports on the status of progress on further rectification works through the Queensland Health Workplace Health and Safety Advisory committee, which is a Queensland Health and union body. We continue to watch closely Queensland Health’s commitment to staff accommodation standards across the state in the form of its undertaking with Workplace Health and Safety Queensland. The undertaking, released in November 2008, obligates Queensland Health to ensure the safety and security of staff in their facilities and accommodation. New Health Minister We welcomed the re-elected Premier Bligh’s commitment to prioritise health by allocating the health portfolio to her trusted deputy, Paul Lucas. Since Mr Lucas became Health Minister we have established regular bi-monthly meetings. We also developed a booklet titled Nurses and nursing in Queensland which has been provided to the Minister, state Labor members of parliament and relevant department personnel, to give them a clear QNU Secretary Gay Hawksworth, Deputy Premier and Health Minister Paul Lucas and QNU Assistant Secretary Beth Mohle at the 2009 International Nurses Day Breakfast understanding of who nurses and midwives are and what we do. This reference guide discusses the vital role nurses and midwives play in the range of health settings in Queensland and examines opportunities where nurses and midwives can be further utilised to build a better health system for all. This resource is available on the members’ only section of the QNU website. Regular bi-monthly meetings have also been established with the Director General of Queensland Health on alternate months. Queensland Children’s Hospital While we have placed on record our preparedness to work with Queensland Health to build a world class tertiary paediatric hospital in Queensland, we maintained that a clear vision and transparent consultative processes must be established to ensure the project’s success. We shared our concerns about the process used in naming the preferred site for the facility as we expressed those same concerns more than two years ago when the announcement was made. Other issues include governance concerns, a lack of consultation with nursing staff, a lack of appropriate risk management processes, and the diminution of services that are currently provided. We also believe other work, especially relating to workforce planning and lower level paediatric emergency services in outer metropolitan and rural areas, does not appear to have been given appropriate emphasis. The QNU is involved in continuing consultation around the new facility. Private hospital sector There has been a planned expiration of private hospital agreements to coincide with public sector negotiations and the QNU has been representing members in claims for wage and condition parity. At the end of the 2008/2009 financial year, 14 negotiations were under way covering almost all private hospital nurses and midwives. Already as a result of negotiations conducted during the past financial year, the Holy Spirit Northside agreement contains wage parity for the majority of nursing classifications and improvements to several other conditions. Nurses and midwives expect that the remaining private hospital employers will follow suit, with many negotiations nearing completion. Aged care sector The QNU continues to engage with employers in the aged care sector seeking constructive negotiations for making collective agreements. 10 | Annual Report 2008-09 | Queensland Nurses’ Union of Employees
INDUSTRIAL Of particular significance, a number of agreements are being negotiated for the first time between the QNU and aged care employers where nurses were previously employed under the Award. These negotiations are providing the QNU with significant opportunity to improve the wages and working conditions of members in those workplaces, particularly in light of the Fair Work Act. Unfortunately some other employers have sought to avoid the provisions of the Fair Work Act and rushed through below standard agreements. It is unacceptable for employers in aged care to on the one hand complain about the wages gap and seek further funding, yet on the other hand aggressively pursue measures to hold back nurses’ wages and conditions resulting in the wages gap increasing further. On a positive note, in 2008 we were successful in negotiating an 18% wage increase, enhanced career progression, improved long service leave provisions and a raft of new allowances in the sixth Blue Care-QNU Agreement. This was achieved through an interest based bargaining approach. The QNU is now proposing a similar approach to other aged care employers and also seeking to replicate and improve upon the Blue Care outcome. Workplace Health and Safety The health and safety of all QNU members remains the top priority for our Union. Over recent times the QNU has fought for the maintenance of employees’ fundamental rights to safety in the workplace. Major workplace health and safety activities by the QNU over the past year included work around improving safety and security for all nurses and midwives and maintaining a fair and comprehensive workers’ compensations system. “Swine Flu” The QNU has been identified as a key stakeholder in management of the H1N1 Influenza (Human Swine Influenza) pandemic in Queensland. We have been closely monitoring the management of the virus by participating in regular stakeholder briefings with Queensland Health as well as reviewing their daily H1N1 Influenza stakeholder reports. We have also met with the Chief Health Officer to discuss concerns regarding workforce management issues and advised Queensland Health of our position in regard to nurses or midwives with a suspected illness or a confirmed illness. National occupational health and safety laws The QNU, along with unions across Australia, has a number of concerns about decisions made by the Workplace Relations Ministers Council (WRMC) into the future national model occupational health and safety (OH&S) laws. In May, the WRMC met to make a decision on each recommendation from the National Review into Model Occupational Health and Safety Laws, which was released earlier this year. The ACTU believes there are six priority areas of concern which require further consultation before the decisions are finalised in the new model legislation, which is to be adopted in all jurisdictions from 2011. Our concerns centre around six key decisions: » » » » » » Ceasing a union’s right to prosecute Onus of proof now imposed on the prosecution rather than the employer Removal of the risk management process Excluding tripartism where unions, employers and the workplace authority work together to establish a good OH&S process Increasing the length of time required for Right of Entry notices Possible reductions in consultation and Health and Safety Representative rights Australian unions have launched a national campaign calling for the maintenance of workers’ current protections under the new laws. With the States and Territories still negotiating with the Commonwealth over the new model law, the Don’t risk second-rate safety campaign calls on people to sign a petition to the government to show we’re serious about healthy and safe workplaces. Visit www.rightsatwork.com.au/campaigns Rights on Site campaign The QNU continues to support the ACTU’s Rights on Site campaign which highlights the treatment of Australia’s construction workers who do not have the same rights in their workplace as all other workers. Launched in late 2008 by building industry unions, the campaign calls for the immediate abolition of the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC). Regular articles have been included in our publications which tell of construction workers interrogated and threatened with imprisonment for reporting or taking action on a range of issues including workplace health and safety. Workers’ compensation The QNU continues to assist members in workers’ compensation claims and processes. Queensland Nurses’ Union of Employees | Annual Report 2008-09 | 11
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QNU Annual Report 08-09.indd - Queensland Nurses Union

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