News
22nd December, 2021
VAU members at RFDS ‘on-call’ dispute – Positive Outcome
The Victorian Ambulance Union Incorporated (VAU) were today contacted by many members employed by Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) in relation to concerns that they would be forced to accept on-call shifts in excess of their normal rostered shifts.
A survey, issued by the RFDS rosters team, gave just over three (3) days to respond! The survey essentially asked each respondent to state how many ‘on-call’ shifts they were prepared to work per roster cycle There was no option for zero on-call shifts. The following excerpt from the email implies that staff did not have the option to avoid these shifts.
“If you choose not to submit the form, the rosters team will assume you have no preference regarding the amount of on-call shifts you are happy to work and will be rostered to what is considered a reasonable number of on-call shifts”
The VAU had been drafting a letter to RFDS and advised members in the interim to respond to RFDS’ email with the following:
“I will not be completing the survey, and this does not mean you may allocate a ‘no preference’ number of on-call shifts to me. I am currently seeking external advice. Can you please supply more information on your proposal and under which terms of my contract of employment and RFDS EBA that you are seeking to alter my roster? I require a response by COB Thursday 23 December 2021”.
The VAU are pleased to advise members that the RFDS rosters team have since retracted the survey and apologised for their error. This is a positive outcome for members of RFDS and is a great example of how ‘member-power’ can bring about change in the workplace. The VAU would like to thank those members who responded so quickly in this instance.
If there are any other RFDS members who answered the survey before it was withdrawn, please contact the VAU if your survey response is later used to justify rostering you for on-call shifts.
No employee should be forced to work on-call unless they agree to it after an appropriate consultation period, and with due consideration given to Employment Contracts, Enterprise Agreements, Fatigue management and other Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) considerations.
On the back of this incident, the VAU will be writing to RFDS and reminding them of their obligations under the Enterprise Agreement in relation to major change.
In solidarity