The future of your nursing award is under threat because of a united campaign by other unions (Health Services Union, Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union & the Australian Workers Union) and a number of aged care employers to replace nursing awards with generic industry awards. (see footnote)

The federal government has requested the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) review state and federal awards and create new modern awards.  The AIRC is seeking the views of unions and employer groups in this process.

ANF believes the best way to protect nurses’ wages and conditions is by having a nursing award. This is supported by the ACTU who have publicly supported the continuation of awards specifically covering the occupation of nursing. However some unions and employers argue that nursing should be brought into general awards covering particular industries such as aged care.

ANF believes that industry awards would disadvantage you and reduce patient and resident care standards.

Historically, nurses have had their own awards and there are good reasons why this should continue. Nurses’ work across a range of settings and in the past awards have recognised this. As a profession nurses strongly identify with each other regardless of the sector in which they work.  This community of nursing approach also serves to make you a clearly and identifiable group of employees.

Nurses have common professional, industrial and pay issues – including:

• Workload Management tools
• Scope of practice
• Classification and career structures
• Recognition of Service

ALL OF THIS IS NOW AT RISK!

If the other unions and aged care employers get their way nurses will be forced into generic industry awards with non-specific career structures and minimum conditions of employment.

ANF IS CALLING ON ALL NURSES TO HELP SAVE THEIR AWARDS

1.         Sign the Petition

ANF is circulating a petition calling on the AIRC to reject the other unions and employer push to scrap nursing awards and to ensure that nurses’ minimum wages and employment conditions are protected by nursing awards.   Click here to download a copy of the petition.

2.         Raise the issue with your employer

Hold a meeting, resolve to defend your award and tell your employer. Remember your employers’ representative may be telling the AIRC to replace your nursing award with a generic industry award.

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 Footnote   Nursing awards are specifically tailored to meet the needs of nurses and provide a minimum safety net for nurses wherever they may be employed whereas generic industry awards will cover all employees in an industry (eg. aged care) and will not separately identify nursing classification structures or conditions of employment

Authorised by Ged Kearney Federal Secretary Australian Nursing Federation