EBA 2024 Update – Volume 5

Welcome to the fifth edition of a bulletin that aims to keep Western Health’s nurses and midwives informed and up to date on the bargaining negotiations for the successor enterprise agreements to both the:

• Nurses and Midwives (Victorian Public Sector)(Single Interest Employers) Enterprise Agreement 2020-2024
• Victorian Public Mental Health Services Enterprise Agreement 2020-2024

which collectively cover all nurses and midwives employed at Western Health.

Introduction

This update provides information regarding the progress of the bargaining processes for the new Enterprise Agreements (EA) which will take effect over 2024.

The enterprise agreement for nurses and midwives working in public health services across Victoria expires on 30 April 2024, so these negotiations are underway.

Nurses working in mental health services are covered by a separate enterprise agreement which expires in December 2024. Negotiations for this agreement will commence later this year.

Background

The Log of Claims from unions (ANMF, HWU and HACSU) and employers, represented by the Victorian Hospitals’ Industrial Association (VHIA) have been the subject of ongoing negotiations between the parties since October 2023.

Meetings have been occurring at least two days a week, where the parties have been working through both employee and employer claims and in many cases the proposed wording of draft clauses has been negotiated to ensure that changes to the enterprise agreement would work effectively and not cause unintended consequences. Negotiations between the parties are overseen by the Department of Health, who represent the State Government and have to support any additional costs if they are included in the enterprise agreement.

On 1 March 2024, the ANMF wrote to the Victorian Government seeking a comprehensive response to all of the union’s claims, and on 19 March 2024 a State Government approved response and offer was provided by VHIA. The offer included a 4-year agreement, a 3% per annum wage increase, a pro rata $1,525 per EFT lump sum payment and agreement to a number of no-cost items.

The ANMF held a report back meeting to update its’ members on the progress of the EBA negotiations on 21 March 2024. Western Health worked actively to ensure that as many of our nurses and midwives that wanted to attend this meeting were able to do so.

Outcome of ANMF enterprise agreement feedback meeting

Whilst there was support for the progress made on non-cost EBA items, a Resolution was made at the ANMF meeting to:

• reject the offer,
• make an application for a protected industrial action ballot order in the Fair Work Commission.

When an application for protected industrial action is made, the Fair Work Commission insists on compulsory conciliation between the parties to discuss the impact of the proposed industrial action.

ANMF will then ask its members to vote on the protected industrial action, and then hold a meeting after the declaration of the protected industrial action ballot to advise their members on next steps. Any industrial action cannot occur until after the current enterprise agreement expires on 30 April 2024.

In the meantime, the parties will continue to meet to work through unresolved items. Western Health is hopeful that further progress will be made in these meetings.

Keeping informed

Western Health will continue to provide regular updates on the outcomes of the bargaining process and how the new enterprise agreements for 2024-2028 are progressing.

Unions will also provide information to their members through regular publications, notices and report-back meetings.

Any queries or concerns can be discussed confidentially with the relevant Divisional Director of Nursing & Midwifery, Deputy Executive Director of Nursing & Midwifery or People & Culture Business Partner.