Salvation Army: enterprise agreement negotiations to commence
Published: 21 November 2011
The Salvation Army Aged and Home Care Services, the Queensland Nurses’ Union and other unions are about to commence negotiations for an enterprise agreement to replace your current agreement, which will soon expire.
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 you cannot be worse off under an enterprise agreement. 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 management of Salvation Army and negotiations will take place around those claims.
QNU members will be represented by a QNU Industrial Officer, a QNU Organiser, and some QNU workplace representatives (more on this below).
We have a meeting with Salvation Army management scheduled for 1 December to discuss the details of the negotiation process. The QNU is aware that your last pay rise was in October last year - so we will do our best to get an agreement finalised as soon as possible and the wage rise backdated to October 2011.
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 your local QNU Organiser or QNU 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 improvements in the working lives of aged care nurses—such as improved career paths, better long service leave, access after seven years and so on.
This framework log is enclosed. Please review it and add any other items that you believe are appropriate and delete any you think are inappropriate or which you already have.
Please return it to the QNU as soon as possible, but no later than close of business on Tuesday 29 November. As you will see on the survey form, you can return it by fax on 3844 9387 or in the reply paid envelope provided.
Your input is vital to establish what members feel are the key issues for negotiation.
Letter advising staff of their representational rights
Finally, if you have not already received a letter from your employer inviting you to nominate a bargaining representative, you should soon. 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 if you are a member.
We look forward to working with you to obtain the best result we can.
Contact:
Phone: