Call the HACSU Helpline
1300 88 00 32

more info

Winter 2004

St Lukes Nurses show how it is Done

Nurses at St Lukes are showing how to get organised and get results.

Twelve months ago St Lukes nurses decided the way they were doing things just wasn't working.

They needed improved communications amongst nurses, and greater availability of representatives. So they decided on a new representative model - the HACSU Worksite Committee.

After seeking expressions of interest, nine nominations were received from nurses in all areas to act as HACSU representatives. And it was just in time, big issues were looming.

St Lukes was sold to Calvary Health Care and enterprise bargaining negotiations were about to begin.

According to Sue Bush, a member of the HACSU Worksite Committee, the new structure really helped.

"The Worksite Committee immediately began working through members' priorities for a new agreement," Sue said.

"Information sessions were held, there were a lot of one to one discussions, and a survey was distributed to put together an accurate picture of what members wanted."

"Because we had representatives from each area it worked really well."

"Before one person had to try to disseminate all the information, and it was really hard to get it right."

"With HACSU members knowing who the Worksite Committee members were, it was very easy to catch someone to find out what was going on."

"I think our ratio of reps to members is actually about 10 to 1, which is great." "Also, the average nursing experience of the Worksite Committee members is about 12 or 13 years, so people know their areas pretty well."

So what did the members achieve? Well in the new EBA they got an 18%-19% wage improvement, plus they were able to keep key conditions, such as paid meal breaks and shift breaks which the employers was seeking to eliminate or reduce.

Members were also able to hang onto the 1995 parttime annual leave agreement (seen as very important by many staff), got an additional weeks leave for theatre staff, post-graduate allowances, 14 weeks maternity leave and some changed arrangements on sick leave.

According to Sue, negotiations were open and fair.

"The new management had to learn about the people in the north. I think management actually did learn a lot about our culture in this hospital, how we work and how we support each other."

"We tend to work well together as a workforce, picking up shifts where we are needed and helping out.
There has always been a respect there."

"We have tried to maintain that goodwill. That culture has helped with recruitment and retention because we have a good reputation."

"The new management has encouraged people to speak to management and to their HACSU representatives, so we are pleased about that."

"There is of course still a lot of apprehension about what their plans are but it's exciting as well. I think most people are actually pleased we have been taken over by Calvary and are keen on the staff development potential.
And we are going into the period with good wages and conditions." Well done to the nurse members at St Lukes.