Doctors to talk politics to patients in election lead-up
DOCTORS are threatening to use consultations with patients to appeal directly to voters in the lead up to the state election. And the state’s main doctor group the Australian Medical Association has warned both the Government and the Opposition it would actively campaign during the election. In an unprecedented move, AMA state president Richard Choong [...]
Nurses threaten walk-out over assaults
Nurses at the Royal Children’s Hospital are concerned that staffing levels are not being increased sufficiently to manage planned opening of four new beds in their unit this month. Photo: Peter Braig MENTAL health nurses at the Royal Children’s Hospital are threatening to walk off the job over a staffing dispute with management that follows [...]
Mental health nurses end Vic pay dispute
VICTORIA’S mental health nurses have settled their workplace dispute with the state government after months of industrial action. Union members representing the state’s psychiatric nurses, support staff and mental health workers voted on Thursday to accept a draft pay and conditions agreement, bringing an end to work bans and rolling strikes that had stretched on [...]
Mental health workers suspend industrial action
Industrial action by mental health workers has been suspended, with the Health and Community Services Union saying its hopeful of resolving its pay dispute with the Baillieu Government. About 100 workers were planning to stop work in the Geelong area today. More stoppages were planned for next week. A confidential settlement was reached during negotiations [...]
Ballarat health workers to strike
BALLARAT psychiatric nurses, mental health clinicians and support staff will begin a series of rolling eight-hour strikes next month. Health and Community Services Union state secretary Lloyd Williams said the industrial action by public mental health service workers was over a long-running pay and staffing dispute. It follows 10 months of negotiations with the state [...]
Mental health fight heats up
THE fight for improved mental health funding and staffing levels is set to intensify, according to unions. Both the Health and Community Services Union and Australian Nursing Federation (Victorian branch) told The Express last week they were disappointed with progress on negotiations with the State Government over staffing and workload management in mental health units. [...]
Broadmeadows mental health workers strike
BROADMEADOWS mental health staff took industrial action last week as part of a statewide campaign calling for better pay and conditions. Psychiatric nurses, mental health clinicians and support staff at NorthWestern Mental Health took part in the two two-hour stoppage, which was part of 100 planned strikes to be held over the 23-day campaign. Health [...]
Mental health workers pledge to continue rolling stoppages
Mental health workers have been striking for two hours at a time in rolling stoppages around Victoria since April 10. The campaign is in support of a new enterprise bargaining agreement. Key elements of the claim include a 16% pay rise over three years and improved staffing. After seven months of negotiation, the government has [...]
Bendigo mental health workers protest
BENDIGO’S mental health workers rallied outside Bendigo Health at the weekend. More than 40 psychiatric nurses and mental health clinicians walked off the job to participate in two strikes on Saturday. Rally participants wore orange campaign T-shirts with the slogan “WTF? Where’s the funding for mental health, Ted?”. Health and Community Services Union state secretary [...]
Cuts ‘ignore reality of mental ills’
North East psychiatric nurse Lino Bin said there was no money for more services such as a full-time activities officer supporting patients at The Willows continuing care unit at Beechworth. “The officer works 15 hours a week which is ridiculous to have someone who can take people out and complete the paperwork and planning,” Mr [...]
