Healthscope nurses stand together for sa WE STARTED the process of bargaining for Healthscope nurses’ new agreement in late 2020 and, as of September 2021, it still continues.
After back-and-forth meetings that weren't getting anywhere and a very poor offer of 1.5%, nurses voted to take protected industrial action. Healthscope tried to run a scare campaign, and some staff received a letter making false claims about that industrial action. The simple fact, of course, is that HACSU members are fully able to discuss what bans will look like or what's involved. This is not illegal in any shape or form, it's your right as a HACSU member, and you are protected. Scare tactics are nothing to worry about, and the fact that
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Healthscope goes in this direction only means they're running scared about nurses' power as a collective.
Other sneaky tactics are making it difficult for HACSU organisers to visit meal rooms by having their WH&S employee escort us to each meal room, of which there are 5. They also reject our right of entry notices citing the public health directive regarding COVID-19.
Other private hospitals are happy for us to visit and talk with our members, so why is Healthscope making itself the exception?
Unfortunately the other union involved, the AMNF, tried twice for a ballot but neither one got up. Our bans started in early February with nurses wearing campaign materials such as badges and stickers.
Flyers they gave to patients and families had a QR code for them to scan and have a say on their experience at Healthscope.
Our first stop work was for half an hour in March and was well attended, with other unions joining us in solidarity. Negotiations continued with no real outcome so we stepped up the action by stopping work again for 2 hours.
