Catholic Health Care Campaign
LESS THAN HONOURABLE?
- Details
- Published on Monday, 07 December, 2009
What Happened?
As members will be aware, your representatives have been negotiating with management over the past few months to find a resolution to the motor vehicle issue. However, we have found management’s most recent actions to be less than honourable or in the spirit of good faith.
On 23 November, we learnt that management sent an email to ALL Coordinators containing an offer to settle this matter and giving Coordinators a deadline of 30 November to accept the offer. This email was sent to all Coordinators only 2 hours after a letter was sent to the ASU office containing the same offer. In addition, despite a prior agreement to continue negotiations on 25 November, the letter to the ASU stated that “Catholic Healthcare is unable to negotiate any further on any of these options and therefore I am unsure of the necessity to meet on 25 November unless you advise us to the contrary.”
Members have expressed their dissatisfaction with management’s behaviour and in our view, management’s actions had the effect of:
- Undermining and disrespecting the negotiating process set up with your elected representatives;
- Unilaterally cutting off negotiations (instead of ending negotiations by mutual agreement)
- Dividing the workforce and undermining your right to negotiate collectively;
- Creating undue stress and urgency in the workplace.
Meeting with Management
Your representatives felt it was still necessary to meet with management and did so on 25th November. The purpose of the meeting was for continued discussions only. There was no acceptance of any offer. Below is a summary of the responses we received:
Your Reps: Expressed members dissatisfaction with management’s actions as described above
Response: It was not management’s intention to divide the workforce or cut off negotiations prematurely.
Your Reps: Sought an extension of the date of the offer put by management to enable members to meet and consider the offer.
Response: Agreement to extend the offer to 4th December.
Your Reps: As Coordinators will need to sign a Deed of Release before accepting the money, we want to know what the deed will contain and if it is acceptable to our union.
Response: Management will provide a draft copy of the deed by 1 December for consideration by the members and their union.
Your Reps: Where is the money for a one-payment coming from?
Response: Management is not prepared to advise this.
Your Reps: Why has management decided to offer a one-off payment and not an ongoing payment which would encourage ongoing loyalty to the organisation and avoid future costs to train replacement Coordinators for anyone who may leave the organisation once the one-payment is paid? It is also more beneficial for taxation purposes.
Response: The organisation cannot afford ongoing payments.
Your Reps: We expect that if the tool of trade cars are replaced with pool cars, Coordinators will not be able to see as many clients as they currently do because there will be less flexibility with the use of cars, and Coordinators will not be able to fit in visits to and from the office.
Response: We don’t expect that the change to pool cars will have any impact on the number of client visits. If the change does have an impact we will look at making other arrangements.
What Now?
It is now up to members to decide the way forward. We are calling an urgent union meeting for members only. The purpose of the meeting will be to:
- Consider management’s offer;
- Discuss any other options available to members;
- Vote on a way forward.
This is your opportunity to have your say. We are at a critical point in the negotiations and your attendance at this meeting is vital. Please be advised that the meeting is only for members of the union. If you are not yet a member and wish to participate in the discussion and make your voice count, please join as soon as possible.
Union Meeting
Tuesday 1st December
5:30pm
Brush Park Bowling Club
Cnr Marsden Rd & Rutledge St, Dundas
As always, decisions are only made by members and with members, through a democratic vote of the majority. Come and have your say!
If you do not wish to receive this bulletin, please reply to the sender or contact Adrienne Vella on 9310 4000.
United We Stand, Divided We Beg!
