3 minute read
Healthscope nurses stand together
WE STARTED the process of bargaining for Healthscope nurses’ new agreement in late 2020 and, as of September 2021, it still continues.
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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 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.
Nurses marched through the Hobart CBD with chants and banners and flyers to hand out. They gathered at the Unions Tas office where the AMWU's John Short gave a heartfelt speech on the nurse’s courage in taking a stand for better conditions for workers and patients. Nurses then marched through the city back to Hobart Private Hospital. Site organisers visited both campuses every second day to make sure members were being supported and show them they're not alone in their fight for safer staffing. Management resorted to bullying tactics to make staff feel guilty for taking industrial action and supposedly not looking after their patients by walking off the job. Healthscope obviously doesn't understand that not having safe staffing levels is actually a far greater danger to patients. Another stop work action was a morning walk up the road for breakfast to discuss the next steps and agree on a resolution for moving forward. And while all this is going on... HACSU delegate and Hobart Private nurse Christine Hansson won Delegate of the Year and Healthscope nurses won Campaign of the Year! This campaign has been massive and, as you can imagine, it's especially hard for nurses to walk off the job – but that's how strongly they feel. The fight hasn’t finished, and nurses are as united and resolute as ever. As they do every day of their working lives, Healthscope nurses are determined to make things better.
