Following the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Tasmanian Branch ANMF) newsflash released on 29 April 2020, titled ‘Dual Employment During COVID-19  click to view  ANMF have had numerous calls from members working at Calvary North regarding recent requests from Calvary management to cease working shifts at the Launceston General Hospital and or other employers.
ANMF have sort urgent clarification from the Calvary North CEO regarding this matter. ANMF has specifically detailed the following:

1. The directive to an employee to not work for another employer is not a lawful and reasonable direction, and accordingly is not enforceable.
2. That such a directive constitutes a major change as per clause 14 of the Calvary Health Care Tasmania (St Luke and St Vincent’s Campuses) Nursing Staff Agreement 2017. As a result, Calvary have obligations under clause 14 (e) (ii) to provided details of the change in writing to employees.
3. The Communicable Diseases Network Australia guidelines that have been endorsed by also state “Healthcare workers and other contacts who have taken recommended infection control precautions, including the use of full PPE, while caring for a symptomatic confirmed or probable COVID-19 cases are not considered to be close contacts”.
4. There is no direction given by Public Health of this nature.

ANMF has requested a response in writing by 12 Midday Friday 1 May 2020. In the interim if you are approached by Calvary management with a request to limit your employment please ask that this request be placed in writing. ANMF will have further advise to members on receipt of a response from the Calvary CEO.

In the interim if you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact our Member Support Team on (03) 6223 6777 or 1800 001 241 (if outside Hobart). Alternatively, email membersupport@anmftas.org.au. Due to COVID-19 the Team are now practicing social isolation and working from home, bearing this in mind, email is the preferred and fastest way of contacting them.

Download a print ready PDF of this newsflash here.