Congratulations to all ANMF members working at St Vincent’s Private Hospitals who have maintained stage one action over the holiday season. The ANMF protected industrial action continues with bed closures, along with other protected actions including a refusal to undertake food services duties, and in-charge staff refusing to take a patient load in addition to their in-charge duties.
St. Vincent’s Private Hospital had alleged that this action is unlawful. The ANMF maintains that the action is part of the protected industrial action ballot order approved by the Fair Work Commission and is lawful. Hospital management was notified of this action prior to Christmas. Members are taking this last resort action to progress their claims for safe staffing and workload provisions and safe patient care.
In response to St. Vincent’s Private Hospital alleging that this action was unlawful the ANMF sought and was granted a Federal Court injunction preventing St. Vincent’s Private Hospital management from asserting that members’ bed closure industrial action is unprotected and therefore unlawful.
Bed closures (i.e. particular beds will not be provided with nursing labour) are a key way for staff to signify that they are withdrawing nursing labour to a point of care. Under the list of protected actions ANMF members are entitled to close one in three beds, subject to exemptions - for example cardiac, oncology, maternity/obstetrics, paediatric and emergency care.
The goal of the action is to resolve staffing claims that are critical in addressing long-standing workload issues across all four St. Vincent's Hospitals
“We know safe staffing saves lives, reduces patient re-admission and is a cost-effective way of preventing understaffing and maintaining a stable permanent early career and experienced nursing and midwifery workforce,” ANMF Victorian Assistant Secretary Madeleine Harradence said.
“St. Vincent's Private must stop relying on understaffing to prop up its financials at the cost of burning through its exhausted nursing and midwifery workforce.”
Members are to be congratulated for their resolve in standing together to pursue an agreement outcome that includes quality and safety for staff and patients through the introduction of safe staffing levels.
Read more: St Vincent’s Private Hospitals’ nurses and midwives EBA - ANMF