On 9 September 2015, we served your log of claims on your employers via their bargaining representative, the Victorian Hospitals’ Industrial Association (VHIA).
The timing of this is important; we worked hard to ensure that your log was prepared (with extensive consultation) and properly approved by you in time for bargaining to formally commence on 1 October 2015.
Disappointingly however, formal bargaining has not yet commenced. The Notice of Employee Representational Rights that employers are required to provide to employees once an employer has formally agreed to bargain has not yet been sent to employees and VAHPA has not yet received the employers’ log of claims.
VAHPA has voiced its frustration at what we see as unnecessary delay to the start of formal bargaining to the relevant parties on multiple occasions. The option of going to the Fair Work Commission to get the employers to formally commence bargaining remains open to us. However we are keen to avoid an ugly start to bargaining if at all possible. We see no reason why this round of bargaining can’t be respectful, timely and mature.
“We are extremely disappointed by these delays,” said VAHPA Secretary, Craig McGregor. “This round of bargaining is vital for Allied Health Professionals, and the last thing we need is to see it dragged out unnecessarily.”
“We have proposed intensive bargaining throughout December to counteract these delays,” concluded McGregor.
We will be providing regular updates on bargaining throughout the period. Keep you eyes peeled and get your colleagues on board!
I just want to raise the concern in regards to the changes to the taxation of meal entertainment and venue hire benefits which will become effective in 1st April 2016. The changes would result in lost of income for members in public sector. The change has already become law so there will be nothing we can do about it. I just want the union to have this change in mind as part of the bargaining negotiation to fight for a bigger pay rise to cover the lost of income from the change in meal entertainment and venues hire benefits.
Hi Stanley, this will certainly be raised during negotiations. It is something we are very aware of and keen to make up for.
In unity, Craig.