It’s Going to be a Long & Hard Campaign

The first meeting with the VHIA (Victorian Hospitals Industrial Association) and the Department of Health took place last Friday 20 January 2012.

We were advised that:

• The employers would be serving the Union with an employer log “soon”. Under the government’s IR policy the employers are supposed to have developed their counter log 6 months before the expiry of the agreement.
• The government’s wages policy is

• 2.5% pa wage increase (even though this is less than the rate of inflation)
• Any increase above 2.5% must be funded by increased productivity through ‘bankable savings’
• No retrospectivity

The last point is particularly galling as the delays in bargaining have all been on the employer side – and our Agreement expired on 31 December 2011.

Future weekly bargaining meetings are scheduled.

A general meeting of members will be held on Wednesday 8 February 2012 at 62 Lygon Street to discuss future strategies for bargaining, including industrial action if necessary. Now is the time to get involved in the campaign, and to ensure your colleagues are all members of the Union, as only Union members may take industrial action. Workplace meetings are being planned. We will advise you of the date, time and place of meetings as soon as possible.

To view the Log of Claims, supplementary items and names of the EBA Negotiating Team go to Documents -> Campaigns -> Public Sector 2012 (login first)