Public Sector EA 2016 - Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation (Tasmanian Branch)

ANMF are pleased to advise members that the new public sector Enterprise Agreement was registered in the Tasmanian Industrial Commission today!

Variations have also been made to the Nurses and Midwives (Tasmanian State Sector) Award in relation to parental leave, and personal leave, a new clause of domestic violence leave has been added and entitlements for compassionate and bereavement leave have been brought in line with the wider state sector entitlements.

The night duty clause is likely to be of particular interest to shift working nurses (and to those who prepare rosters). This clause now provides that, unless the employee otherwise agrees or requests, they will be entitled to two full days off after night duty and these two days off do not include the day the night shift finishes on: that is a ‘sleep day’.

It is noted that rosters have already been, or are in the process of being, published so the penalty provision of the Night Duty clause will apply from 27 April 2017. This will allow rosters to comply with the new clause.

ANMF (Tas) have also been advised that new salary rates will commence at the start of next pay, PP19, from 26/02/2017, pay date 15/03/2017 with backpay processed into the following pay 29/03/2017.

Below are some key points that ANMF member action has achieved for public sector nurses and midwives in Tasmania. For full details of the new Agreement please see here.

An eighteen month Agreement, December 2016 to 30 June 2018 with a clause to enable bargaining to commence for the new Agreement 3 months prior to expiry.
A 2% pay increase for FFPP 1 December 2016 and 2017. Pay will increase from 15 March, back payment the following fortnight.
A review of the current NHPPD and ratio framework to develop a hybrid staffing ratio model for Tasmania.
Implementation of Associate Nurse Unit Managers (Grade 5) on all wards and units on all shifts. Recruitment to commence once the SoD has been developed.
On call arrangements improved to include a callback for Nurses and Midwives rostered on call and required to work greater than one hour overtime at the end of their shift. An eight hour break at the end of the call back period. Discussions are to occur around whether there should be a higher callback allowance for employees who have been rostered greater than 250 hours of on call.
Professional Development Allowance to be doubled for full time staff to $650 per annum and to be paid in full to part time staff working greater than 0.4 FTE. Employees working less than 0.4 FTE will receive $325 pa.
Nurses and Midwives at Grade 3, Year 4 will now be able to apply to progress to Grade 4 provide they meet the criteria.
Grade 3 Nurses and Midwives will also have the “In Charge” allowance increased to $23.20 per shift. Grade 4 nurses, if the only Grade 4 RN on duty (in the absence of a Grade 5 nurse) will be entitled to this increased allowance from 1 July 2017.