The Health Services Union and the Department of Health and Human Services are armwrestling a s.739 (Application to deal with a dispute) before Commissioner Cribb at 3pm.
November 16, 2016
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation and Aspen Medical Pty Ltd have a s.730 (Application to deal with a dispute) live before Commissioner Cribb in the Fair Work Commission 11 Exhibition Street Melbourne today.
November 15, 2016
Public servants at the Commonwealth’s biggest department, Human Services, have smashed a proposed workplace deal with a 74 per cent no-vote in a ballot of the 36,000-strong workforce. The result is a case of third-time unlucky for bosses at the department, which runs Centrelink, Medicare and the Child Support Agency, who have now seen three rejections of broadly similar proposals that workers fear will strip away basic workplace rights. The result comes on the heels of a crushing 82 per cent no-vote by public servants at Border Force and the Immigration Department last week of another deal developed under the Coalition’s hardline public sector bargaining framework and a rejection by scientists and researchers at the CSIRO of a similar proposal. Staff at Human Services were told of the result on Monday morning with the department’s human resources boss Adrian Hudson indicating there would be no change in approach despite the third failure to convince the department’s workers that the deal on offer was in their best interests. “Now, the department and bargaining representatives will need to consider their next steps,” Mr Hudson wrote. “We are committed to reaching a fair and affordable Agreement within the boundaries of our service delivery requirements, and the Government’s bargaining policy. “The department will continue to bargain in good faith.” The Community and Public Sector Union was quick out of the blocks to say the no-vote was more evidence that the government’s approach to bargaining had failed abjectly. “For workers in the largest Commonwealth agency to vote No to an agreement despite struggling under a three-year pay freeze shows there’s something seriously wrong with enterprise bargaining,” the union’s national secretary Nadine Flood said. “For them to vote No three times in little more than a year confirms this process is an absolute mess. “These workers provide public services that are among the most needed and valued by ordinary Australians – Medicare, Centrelink and Child Support – yet they’ve been forced to fight to hold onto basic workplace rights and conditions, particularly important family-friendly conditions. “The Government’s bargaining policy means it’s impossible for DHS staff to be offered a reasonable agreement. “Instead the policy seeks to starve workers out with a wage freeze. “It’s a nasty tactic hurting DHS staff struggling on modest wages, mostly below the national average.”
November 15, 2016
Bosses are being forced to pay compensation to crims who lodge a discrimination claim when they are sacked over their criminal records. Already under fire on a number of fronts, the Australian Human Rights Commission has told employers to compensate or apologise to criminals who lied on their job application forms. A male nurse with a stalking conviction won $2000 compo after an aged care home withdrew its job offer upon discovering his criminal record.
November 15, 2016
Calvary Health Care ACT Ltd is facing a s.394 (Application for unfair dismissal remedy) before Deputy President Kovacic in his ACT Chambers at 4.30pm.
November 15, 2016
The UnitingCare NSW.ACT & Health Services Union – New South Wales branch have a s.576(2)(aa)(Promoting cooperative and productive workplace relations and preventing disputes) before Fair Work Commissioner Cribb in Conference Room 11F – Level 11 in Sydney for a decision.
November 15, 2016
The man accused of murdering South Australian outback nurse Gayle Woodford has again delayed the case. Dudley Davey, 35, is charged over the death of 56-year-old Ms Woodford, who went missing from her Fregon home in March before her body was found in a shallow grave three days later. He appeared in the Port Augusta Magistrates Court on Monday and was expected to answer the charge but he did not enter a plea and the case was adjourned until December 19.
November 15, 2016
MSS Security Pty Ltd & MSS Strategic Medical Pty Ltd and Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union are in a s.604 (Appeal of decisions) before the Full Bench in Chambers in Melbourne.
