NEWS-HR

A s.248 (Single interest employer authorisation) by Victorian Hospitals’ Industrial Association has been ratified by Commissioner Cribb in Melbourne on 19 January 2017.

A s.394 (Application for unfair dismissal remedy) by Shah Ahmed against Southern Cross Care WA (Inc) drew a mixed message from Deputy President Binet. Whilst the FWC ruled the dismissal was procedurally unfair, it refused any consideration of reinstatement or compensation.

A s.185 (Enterprise agreement) by Maryvale Private Hospital Pty Ltd for its Maryvale Private Hospital Support Services Enterprise Agreement 2016 has been ratified by Commissioner Gregory in Melbourne.

Mary Mackillop Aged Care SA is facing a s.394 (Application for unfair dismissal remedy) lodged by an ex-staffer (Lehmann).

Baxter Healthcare Pty Ltd is preparing a defence to a s.394 (Application for unfair dismissal remedy) lodged by Portelli. It will be heard by Commissioner Johns in the Fair Work Commission Terrace Tower 80 William Street East Sydney at 1pm today.

Nurses will take industrial action at two major Adelaide hospitals this weekend, limiting numbers in emergency departments to try to have targeted bed closures scrapped. The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation said the bed closures were part of cuts to four wards at the Royal Adelaide and Queen Elizabeth hospitals. SA Health has disputed claims that beds are being closed, instead saying 55 will be be “relocated” to the Lyell McEwin Hospital in Adelaide’s north. As part of the industrial action planned to take place on Saturday, emergency department admissions will be limited and patients only admitted to approved beds at the Royal Adelaide and Queen Elizabeth Hospitals. Chief executive of the federation’s SA branch Elizabeth Dabars said while the action may lead to ambulance ramping, patients will not be put at risk. “We, as much as possible, want to make sure that our patients are receiving appropriate care,” Ms Dabars said. “But in this case we have been forced to act and it would seem to be preferable to our patients in these instances to be ramped, rather than to be sitting in a corridor or a treatment room.” Ms Dabars said if the industrial action was to compromise patient care, it would be cancelled. “We will lift the ban in the event that patient care could be compromised,” she said. But SA Health’s chief executive Vickie Kaminski hopes to stop the industrial action before it takes place. “What I’m agreeing to today is to continue the discussion with our nurses and physicians to see what the issues really are and what [is] the best solution,” Ms Kaminski said. The nurses union last week said emergency department patients were already being treated in corridors due to a shortage of beds, and the proposed cuts would make the situation worse. It said industrial action at the Lyell McEwin Hospital and Flinders Medical Centre over staffing and beds was also imminent.

A s.185 (Enterprise agreement) application by Speaking Up For You Inc. for its Speaking Up For You Enterprise Agreement 2016 has been approved by Commissioner Lee in Melbourne on the 18 January 2017.

A s.185 (Enterprise agreement) application by The Hobart Clinic Association T/A The Hobart Clinic for its Hobart Clinic Enterprise Agreement 2016 has been ratified by Commissioner Gregory in Melbourne on the 18 January 2017.