NEWS-HR

More than 40,000 nurses and midwives will vote for the right to go on strike and close hospital beds in a move to ramp up demands for better pay. It comes as the powerful Victorian nurses’ union seeks substantial wage increases of between 3 and 20 per cent a year for its members in public hospitals and healthcare centres statewide.

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation and the Churches of Christ Life Care Inc are embroiled in a s.739 (Application to deal with a dispute) before Fair Work Commissioner Platt in Adelaide.

Durri Aboriginal Corporation Medical Service is facing a s.394 (Application for unfair dismissal remedy) lodged by an ex-staffer (Blanch).

An application for approval of the Back in Motion Health Group Bayswater Enterprise Agreement 2016 (s.185 – Application for approval of a single-enterprise agreement) is working its way through Fair Work Commissioner Roe’s in tray.

Victorian paramedics are to receive a pay rise of up to $18,000 as part of a $54 million wage upgrade, after the state government accepted the role has become more difficult and complex over the past decade. After winning the 2014 state election, the Andrews government did a deal with the paramedics’ union to end a long-running pay dispute that dogged the Napthine government. Part of the deal was to send the case to the workplace umpire to determine a fair pay rate. On Wednesday the Fair Work Commission ruled that paramedics deserved more pay. Health Minister Jill Hennessy told Parliament that Labor would accept all the recommendations.

An application for approval of the RSL LifeCare (ACT) Enterprise Agreement 2016-2017 (s.185 – Application for approval of a single-enterprise agreement) will be determined by Fair Work Commissioner Johns.

Josephine Courtney has failed in her unfair dismissal claim against Baptistcare. Fair Work Deputy President Gooley in Melbourne ruled Ms Courtney had not served the minimum period of employment to mount a claim.

The Australian Paramedics Association of Victoria v Ambulance Victoria and United Voice v Ambulance (s.739 – Application to deal with a dispute) are both still running before the Fair Work Full Bench after 5 hearing days.