ANMF COVID-19 Newsflash: Allowance Negotiations Update

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Tasmania Branch (ANMF) has been advocating for months for a COVID-19 allowance to recognise and aid in the retention of nurses, midwives, assistants in nursing and health service officers across the State’s Public Health settings. Today the ANMF again met with Department of Health and Government representatives to discuss the parameters of the proposed COVID-19 allowance agreement.

Some progression has been made with agreement around the allowance amount and trigger being reduced to level 4 to level 3 however, the Government’s position is that this will not be paid unless individual facilities or a region is at Level 3 of the COVID-19 escalation for at least 42 days and there is no commitment to back pay the allowance for those periods where health services or regions have already been at level 3 escalation since borders opened on December 15, 2021. The allowance would also incorporate escalation for other respiratory illnesses.

The ANMF is concerned that the proposed agreement will further damage the morale of exhausted members. The initial request from the ANMF for a COVID-19 allowance was intended to recognise the efforts of members for over two years in this pandemic and to aid in retention of staff who are rapidly burning out.

On your behalf the ANMF has strongly advised Government bargaining representatives to re-consider their position on the 42 day requirement at escalation level 3 and to consider the allowance being paid as soon as the escalation to level 3 is made, or within a short period of time.

If the Government do not revise the allowance trigger to align with the escalation levels, the ANMF will consult with all members as to next steps, including discussions on whether members wish to take industrial action.

Read the full update here.

Updates correct as at 31 March 2022
Authorised by Emily Shepherd, ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary

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Member Support Team: The ANMF Tasmanian Branch is 8000 plus members strong! Supporting nurses, midwives, and care workers as the only union in Tasmania employing nurses and care workers to represent members. This is why our Organisers and Member Support Team are uniquely positioned to understand your experiences, represent you in your workplace, and offer industrial advice that’s relevant to you. Please contact our Member Support Team if you need workplace support, would like to discuss any matters or raise a concern. Alternatively, you can send an email outlining your concerns to our team - membersupport@anmftas.org.au. Email is the preferred and fastest way of contacting the team, however if your matter is urgent, please phone (03) 6223 6777 or 1800 001 241 if you are outside of Hobart.

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