Update
Thank you to the thousands of members who provided their feedback on the
Government's EB proposals this week. We have now closed the survey and
these results are being considered by a Committee of WSRs and the
ANMF (SA Branch) Council . Further updates will be provided to members
next week after those meetings have taken place.
3 May 2020
As we reported on 16 March, ANMF (SA Branch) on behalf of members sought the urgent resolution to the protracted negotiations regarding the Enterprise Bargaining Agreement for nurses and midwives across the public sector.
We then wrote to the Treasurer and Minister for Industrial Relations, Rob Lucas, on 2 April seeking his direct involvement in the resolution of the issue given the longstanding impasse.
Despite all of the talks and attempts by the ANMF (SA Branch) on your behalf to resolve the claims, we are yet to be in receipt of any formal offer that can be put to you for acceptance or rejection.
However, on 30 April 2020 we received advice from the Department of Treasury that indicated a willingness to explore a resolution of the claims on one of two bases outlined below.
Option 1: Two-year agreement, three salary increases and 9.5 hour night shifts.
This is your Employer’s preferred option. In this option the terms of the current EBA will continue to operate in all respects other than:
- From 1 April 2022 wards and units that currently utilise the 10 hour night shift (in combination with 8 hour day and late shifts) will implement a 9.5 hour night shift. At this time the night duty penalty would increase to 22% (up from 20.5%)
Wage increases will be made on the following basis:
- From first pay period on or after 1 January 2020 a 2% wage increase will operate; and
- From first full pay period on or after 1 January 2021 and 2022 respectively, further wage increases of 2.35% will operate.
Option 2: Two year ‘Roll over’ of the current EBA and 2% per annum salary increases
This is your Employer’s alternative option. In this option the terms of the current EBA will continue to operate in all respects other than wage increases which will be made on the following basis:
- From first pay period on or after 1 January 2020 a 2% wage increase will operate; and
- From first full pay period on or after 1 January 2021 and 2022 respectively, further wage increases of 2% will operate.
Option 3 (rejection of Government Options 1 and 2)
The only remaining option is for members to reject both of the Government’s proposals.
This would likely mean that members will need to recommence campaigning and action (when the current pandemic emergency period ends), to force the Government to make an improved offer available to members.
It may also mean that the current offer (in both cases) for back-payment of wage increases may be withdrawn.
Have your say
In order to inform the ANMF (SA Branch) response to the options presented on behalf of government your urgent survey responses are sought here.
Complete the survey
Next Steps
This is not a formal process of acceptance or rejection of an offer as no formal offer as been received. At this stage, we are simply exploring possible resolutions that might be acceptable to members. If it is agreed that either Option 1 or 2 should be considered, following a formal offer, all members will have the opportunity to vote finally for acceptance or rejection of any proposed agreement.
Complete the survey
Decision making
The results of this survey will be considered by the Committee of Worksite Representatives that have been involved with the development and implementation of the bargaining campaign throughout the period and then a decision made by your elected Council.
If or when a formal offer is made by Government, a ballot of members will be conducted to accept or reject that offer. Any Enterprise Agreement must be supported by a ballot of affected employees.