It has become apparent that some members have not received their ballot paper from the Australian Electoral Commission.

If you haven’t received your ballot papers call the Australian Electoral Commission on 03 9285 7145 and ask for Shane Lanning, Returning Officer. He will arrange for ballot papers to be sent straight away.

The ballots close on the following dates:

25 May 2012 for the following health services:

Alfred Health
Austin Health
Barwon Health
Eastern Health
Goulbourn Valley Health
Latrobe Regional Health
Melbourne Health
Mercy Public Hospitals Inc
Northern Health
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Royal Children’s Hospital
Southern Health
St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne Pty Ltd
Western Health

1 June 2012 for Northern Health

Obviously members who have not received ballot papers from the AEC will need to act quickly to ensure a vote can be cast before the closing dates of the ballots.

Members are reminded to be extremely cautious about use of work email. While for nearly all of us it is clear that work email should not be used for sharing inappropriate content or images, we don’t always think about who else might access the messages we send and receive at work.

Email should not always be regarded as secure communication especially where the address is part of a large network.

MSAV has come across at least 3 cases in the Public Sector recently where HR has “audited” work emails as supposed proof of non- working of overtime or some other claim against member/s.  In other cases it has become apparent that employers have read confidential emails between the Union and its members.

While there may be policies that say employees may have reasonable personal use of work email, always remember that a 3^rd party (i.e. an IT administrator, HR or your boss) may be able to view your messages.

We also encourgage members to use a private email address as their preferred email address for union messages. You can change your preferences by completing the form on our website.

In the same way, members should be very cautious in what they say about their employer/manager(s) on social networks (Facebook, Twitter, etc). Many people have been disciplined or sacked because they made derogatory or misleading comments about their boss or organisation online.

Protected Industrial Action Ballot

FWA has approved a ballot of MSAV/VPA/AHP members at the following health services, seeking consent to a range of industrial actions, from bans and limitations through to stoppages of work:

Alfred Health

Austin Health

Barwon Health

Eastern Health

Goulburn Valley Health

Latrobe Regional Health

Melbourne Health

Mercy Public Hospitals Inc

Northern Health

Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Royal Children’s Hospital

Southern Health

St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne Pty Ltd

Western Health

Members employed at these health services will be asked to vote in favour of a ‘menu’ of actions which might be taken in support of reaching agreement for a new public sector enterprise agreement.

The VHIA representative at FWA observed that our members do not take industrial action lightly. This is true. Negotiations have been taking place since January this year with no progress to date. It seems that the only language that the employers and the government understand is industrial action.

Then two weeks ago we received a log of claims from the public health employers which amounts to an all out attack on your terms and conditions of employment. Details are available here.

It is important to send a strong message to the employers that members do not accept the health services’ agenda to take away higher qualifications allowances for dietitians, audiologists, psychologists and medical physicists; to restrict access to HQAs by other members; to take away access to arbitration of disputes which may arise under the Agreement; to take away the named Principal Scientists positions; to take away the medical scientists’ merit review process, and more – all designed to reduce your rights – not to mention cut take home pay.

The Protected Action Ballot will be conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission. We expect ballot papers to go out to members next week.

The ballot will close no later than 18 May 2012.

It is important that all members vote, and vote YES. It is a requirement of the legislation that more than 50% of members at each worksite vote in favour of the ballot question to enable protected industrial action to be taken.

Make sure you return your ballot papers with a YES vote – do not simply rely on other members to vote.