Caritas: Enterprise barganing negotiations to commence
Published: 17 November 2011
Caritas Care and the Queensland Nurses Union (QNU) are about to commence negotiations for an enterprise agreement for the first time.
For many of you it will be your first experience in enterprise bargaining.
The aim of making an enterprise agreement is to improve your wages and conditions over and above the award that applies to you, the Nurses Award 2010.
Under the current industrial legislation an enterprise agreement cannot provide for worse wages and conditions than the award. In fact, in order to be approved by Fair Work Australia, an agreement must make all employees better off overall than they would be under the award.
The process
The QNU will present a log of claims to the Caritas Care management, and negotiations will take place around those claims.
QNU members will be represented by a QNU Industrial Officer and a QNU Organiser, and some QNU workplace representatives (more on this below).
We already have a meeting scheduled for 29 November and another for 13 December to discuss your claims with your employer. It is not expected that agreement will be reached in just two meetings but we should make some progress at least before the end of the year.
QNU workplace representatives
We would like to have at least one person from each of the classifications RN, EN and AIN/PCA to sit on the negotiating committee with QNU officials.
Only the people who actually work for the employer can provide advice on what exactly goes on in a workplace and what is needed to fix problems. These representatives will be well supported at negotiations by two QNU officials.
If you are interested in being a QNU workplace representative, please contact QNU Organiser Paul Mitchell or Industrial Officer Vonnie Semple on 3840 1444 for further information.
Your input into a log of claims to put to management
As a matter of principle the QNU always seeks wage increases in aged care to bring them into line with the public sector.
We also attempt to negotiate agreements which retain the best conditions from the old Nurses’ Aged Care Award—State 2005 and add the better entitlements contained within the modern Nurses Award 2010.
We have developed a framework log of claims which covers these issues but also seeks conditions which would improve the working lives of aged care nurses—such as improved career paths, better long service leave and access after seven years, and so forth.
This framework log is enclosed. Please review it and add any other items that you believe are appropriate—as well as deleting any that you think are inappropriate or which you already have.
Please return your input to the QNU as soon as possible, but no later than close of business on Friday 25 November, so that we can put our log of claims to management before the first negotiations commence. As
you will see on the survey form, you can return it by fax on 3844 9387 or in the reply paid envelope provided.
QNU Organisors will also attend some Caritas sites in the next week or so, so please look out for them.
Your input is invaluable as it allows us to establish what members feel are the key issues for negotiation.
Letter advising staff of their representational rights
Lastly, you should have received a letter from your employer inviting you to nominate a bargaining representative. It is a requirement of the Fair Work Act 2009 that your employer issue this letter.
You are not required to nominate anyone, as the QNU will automatically be your bargaining representative.
We look forward to working with you to obtain the best result we can.
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