Negotiations with RDNS management commenced in August 2011 and are on-going
without resolution. On 1 May 2012, RDNS members met at ANF House for a report
back meeting on the progress of negotiations. Members voted to reject the RDNS
wages offer of 2.5% per annum in combination with a repayment offer for
well-being and professional development activity expenses tied to providing
receipts. The wages offer was conditional on reducing current entitlements such
as reducing the amount of personal leave accrual from 21 days to 15 days per
annum. The RDNS offer is significantly less than the recent public sector
outcome.
Other key matters not agreed with RDNS include the quantum of increases and
payment dates, workload management/skills mix, cashing out of annual leave
arrangements, establishment of sub-regions and protecting your current EBA and
award conditions.
The ANF is committed to negotiating an acceptable enterprise bargaining
agreement for RDNS members and is hopeful there will be a positive outcome
without resorting to industrial action. However, ANF is required to take some
preliminary steps in the event members decide to take protected industrial
action.
On 9 May 2012 Fair Work Australia member Senior Deputy President Kaufmann
approved ANF's application. If the majority of ANF members from RDNS vote in the
ballot and if the majority of those members vote YES, then protected industrial
action will be an option in the future if needed. While we take protected
industrial action members' exposure to pay docking is significantly reduced.
From 17 May 2012 you will receive a Protected Action Ballot paper from the
Australian Electoral Commission (AEC). It is vital that you vote in this
ballot and it is vital that you vote YES
- and that you encourage ALL members to vote YES in the ballot. The ballot
closes on 6 June 2012 so to ensure your vote counts, please post ballot paper
back no later than Friday 1 June 2012.
By voting YES in this
ballot you are not voting to take the listed industrial action.
By voting YES in this
ballot you will be providing ANF members with an opportunity to take the listed
protected industrial action, where and when appropriate, at a later date should
it be necessary. It is important to remember that taking, and ceasing,
industrial action can only be determined by a Statewide Members Meeting.
Only the AEC will know who is on the voting roll and who actually votes. No
one will know how you vote. The fliers with this letter provide more information
about the ballot and the ballot process as well as the demands against public
sector nurses and midwives by the Baillieu Government and the employers.
Download and print the flyer in the resources box for more information.
