A union branch previously linked to Kathy Jackson has posted a $2.1 million turnaround, latest financial records show. It comes days after Ms Jackson was charged with 70 criminal counts over allegations she stole nearly $1 million from the Health Services Union in Victoria. The HSU Victoria No. 1 branch, which was previously controlled by Ms Jackson’s former husband, Jeff Jackson, has nearly doubled its membership to 13,000 since her allies lost control of the branch in 2012. Current branch secretary Diana Asmar said the union was now “back on its feet”. “The union was a mess. On the first day on the job, I was greeted by a mountain of shredded documents,” Ms Asmar said. “The union was left in bad shape. We had a $3 million debt that we were paying interest on. There were 450 expired or lapsed workplace agreements collecting dust. We’d shrunk to just 7000 financial members. “In just under four years, we’ve completely turned it around. The union has cleared this $3 million debt. We own our offices outright. Our finances are back on track.” The branch, which trades as the Health Workers Union, will post a surplus of $451,866 for 2015-16. This comes after suffering a loss of more than $1.6 million the previous year. The No. 1 branch will be voting to accept the latest financial statement at a meeting today.
September 5, 2016
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation and Eastern Health (s.739 – Application to deal with a dispute) will be debating in front of Commissioner Cribb in Conference Rooms E & F – Level 6 in Melbourne today.
September 5, 2016
An application for approval of the Mercy Community Services Inc Nurses Enterprise Agreement 2016 (s.185 – Application for approval of a single-enterprise agreement) is being mulled by Commissioner Lee in the privacy of his Melbourne chambers.
September 5, 2016
Disability Services Australia Limited is defending a s.394 (Application for unfair dismissal remedy) brought on by ex-staffer Spencer before Deputy President Sams in Hearing Room 14-2 – Level 14 in Sydney.
September 2, 2016
No disciplinary action should be taken over the death of a Brisbane man who had been administered lethal levels of morphine in a hospital, a Queensland coroner has recommended. Michael Calder, 33, died in Holy Spirit Northside Private Hospital at Chermside in July 2014, days after being admitted for a severe headache. Lawyers representing Mr Calder told a coronial inquest that an autopsy found he had lethal levels of morphine in his blood. Dr Robert Brockett, who treated Mr Calder, told the inquest he was horrified at the amount of morphine in Mr Calder’s blood, as revealed in a subsequent toxicology report. Deputy coroner John Lock found the hospital and treating doctor had already implemented significant improvements and recommended no further changes were necessary. The matter has been referred to the health ombudsmen. The inquest earlier this month heard there were inconsistencies in nurses’ records about how much pain Mr Calder was in and that, at one stage, he was given morphine shortly after it was recorded he had no pain. Nurses on a shift the night before he died also failed to record observations of Mr Calder’s oxygen, but they insisted they would have recorded the levels if they had been a concern. Mr Calder was given oxycontin, multiple doses of ordine — a type of morphine — and ibuprofen across one nursing shift. His partner, Andrea Young, spoke outside the court after the coroner handed down his findings.
September 2, 2016
Baxter Healthcare Pty Ltd is again in the firing line as a s.739 (Application to deal with a dispute) instigated by Holm drags on into its second hearing day.
September 2, 2016
The Australian Medical Association (Victoria) Limited is enmeshed in a s.372 (Application to deal with other contravention disputes) at the instigation of a staffer (Russell).
September 2, 2016
Queensland Urban Utilities (QUU) CIO, Nina Du Thaler, is leaving the water utilities industry after four years and has accepted a new role as group executive, digital and technology at Uniting Care Qld.
