News
24th March, 2021
RFDS EBA – Current Status
If the conciliation process does not result in a resolution, the VAU has a new Protected Action Ballot Application ready to be filed in the Fair Work Commission.
On 26 February 2021, the Victorian Ambulance Union Incorporated (VAU) met with the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) to discuss the status of bargaining following another no vote to an RFDS Proposed Agreement.
In the meeting RFDS stated that they had been asked by Ambulance Victoria to engage a former Fair Work Commission member Brian Lacey to assist the parties to resolve bargaining by conciliation. In response, the VAU advised RFDS that we are amenable to engaging in that process, but we will not change our position in relation to RFDS’s two-tiered wage proposal. At this stage, we will be meeting in the coming weeks to commence the conciliation process.
In light of this development, the VAU will not be lodging for a new Protected Action Ballot Application. However, the current Industrial Actions are still in place and we encourage members to continue to engage in those actions. If the conciliation process does not result in a resolution, the VAU has a new Protected Action Ballot Application ready to be filed in the Fair Work Commission.
Financial mismanagement in Non-Emergency Patient Transport (NEPT)
As members would be aware, during bargaining negotiations, NEPT employers consistently state they are in a dire financial situation. In the NEPT industry when there is poor management or a desire to increase profits, NEPT employers immediately turn to attacking our members conditions. However, your conditions and wages should be improved, not attacked.
The VAU have raised this is with Government and will continue to discuss ways in which we can stop this occurring. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Changing the tendering process.
- Public sector control of existing NEPT contracts.
Please contact your NEPT Organisers should you have any issues or ideas to discuss in relation to the above.
- Bruce Fine 0480 194 711 [email protected]
- Kerry McLean 0480 194 783 [email protected]
In Solidarity,