In an unprecedented move, The Hobart Clinic (THC) have deployed costly legal measures against their own mental health nurses, obstructing small-scale industrial action such as wearing badges and distributing flyers to the community. This comes in the wake of the Clinic's refusal to engage in negotiations for fair wages after their proposed agreement was overwhelmingly voted down.
With a demand as simple as double time on Sundays like most other health workers are entitled to and a pay rise above the 3.5% minimum offered, the nurses find themselves up against a clinic willing to spend huge money on legal maneuvers rather than acknowledge their important work.
Following three months of unsuccessful negotiations for a new enterprise agreement, 70% of nursing staff voted against the offer just before Christmas.
Bringing with them decades of knowledge and experience, the mental health nurses at The Hobart Clinic are the backbone of many essential services not found anywhere else. They provide unparalleled care to individuals facing a range of mental health conditions during their most vulnerable moments.
“Nurses in Tasmania have always been paid behind the mainland. If The Hobart Clinic is offering even less than the public sector then I can only guess that will make us some of the worst-paid nurses in Australia”, said a Registered Nurse (RN) at The Hobart Clinic who wants to speak out but has been legally prevented by the Clinic’s lawyers.
Most of my colleagues are paying the current interest rates, and they shouldn’t have to break their backs just to put a roof over their heads.”
The truth is that they (THC) have lost two psychiatrists, graduate psychiatrists, a program manager, a director of clinical services and will have one locum [short-term contract] psychiatrist left in three months, and they won’t be able to take new admissions.”
I can’t believe now they are paying lawyers money that could be used to attract the staff we need to keep our vital service going.”
Eilish Bremner-Wojtowicz, a former inpatient at THC, wholeheartedly supports the nurses' action. Eilish said, “The nurses were very helpful when I was there. They were fantastic at building and maintaining relationships with patients that make us feel safe, despite the fact that they were so understaffed and overworked.”
"Every patient would know that you can’t receive quality care if the people who are caring for you are not being cared for. If the nurses’ issues go unacknowledged, the risk will be far greater for people who need these essential services.”
HACSU State Secretary Robbie Moore condemned The Hobart Clinic's approach, stating, “This is the most hostile legal move against their own staff that you would expect more from Qantas or Patrick Stevedores. The Hobart Clinic have engaged an expensive employer bargaining agent to resist proper negotiations. It’s disgraceful that they have now taken the next step of hiring an even more expensive legal firm to stifle the voice of workers.”
ENDS