20 December 2007
QNU criticises Mater management for WorkChoices ‘Christmas’ agreement
The Queensland Nurses’ Union has today criticised management of Mater Private South Brisbane and Redlands for their desperate efforts to force nurses onto a non-union agreement using the unfair WorkChoices legislation before it is repealed by the new federal government.
Management at the two hospitals have given nurses, many of whom are on leave, just days to vote on the agreement – leaving many with little or no opportunity to consider the document before the ballot closes on December 24, 2007.
According to QNU Secretary Gay Hawksworth, the actions of management at Mater Private South Brisbane and Redlands are extremely unfair as many nurses have not seen or had time to read the proposed agreement.
“Mater management have been hostile to unions and their nurse members for some time,” Ms Hawksworth said.
“They have even employed the services of a self-professed union-busting consultant to try and prevent unions from protecting and representing their members in the workplace.
“This certainly seems like a desperate act by management to use the unfair WorkChoices laws against nurses before the legislation is repealed by the new federal government,” Ms Hawksworth said.
Already nurses have reported being marched down to the office to vote before being able to consider the proposed document or consult with their union.
“It is extremely concerning that a Catholic Private Hospital is trying to implement a non-union agreement by issuing it just before Christmas when many nurses are on leave with their families,” said Ms Hawksworth.
“Even those nurses who aren’t on leave have not been given the opportunity to read and understand the agreement before they vote.
“This is exactly the type of behaviour that employers were encouraged to engage in by WorkChoices and that saw the Howard government and its unfair legislation voted out by the Australian people at the federal election last month.
“These actions are completely unfair and we urge management at Mater Private South Brisbane and Redlands to withdraw this non-union agreement and give all nurses time to properly consider the content of the agreement,” Ms Hawksworth said. | 
