Archived Media Releases: 27 November 2008

The ANF calls on nurses to reject McKesson’s WorkChoices agreement:

The Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) is urging nurses to reject a WorkChoices style collective agreement being offered by contractor McKesson, which will reduce employees’ wages and conditions.

Ged Kearney, ANF Federal Secretary, said all nursing staff employed by McKesson should reject the inferior non-union agreement.

McKesson Asia-Pacific is a US based company awarded the Commonwealth contact to run an Australian nurse advice phone service. The 24 hour service aims to take pressure off overstretched public hospital emergency departments.

The ANF has been trying to represent nurse members in the negotiation of a union collective agreement; however McKesson continues to push an inferior agreement onto nurses.

Ms Kearney said McKesson was using remnants of WorkChoices legislation to refuse to negotiate with the ANF.

“McKesson is anti-union and is using the dying embers of WorkChoices to secure a non-union collective agreement before new industrial laws are introduced.”

The ANF says the agreement proposed by McKesson will lead to decreases in minimum conditions and does not guarantee pay increases. Annual leave, leave loading, sick leave and long service leave are also reduced, and the right to dispute arbitration has been removed.

Ms Kearney said the ANF is concerned the inferior conditions offered by McKesson jeopardizes a key element of the federal government’s attempt to take pressure off the public health system.

Ms Kearney said the ANF was also deeply concerned that the federal government was prepared to contract critical government services to employers who strip employees’ pay and conditions.

Media Contacts
Ged Kearney, ANF Federal Secretary, 0417 053 322
Lee Thomas, ANF Assistant Federal Secretary, 0419 576 590
Libby Muir, Federal Communications Officer, 0413 834 979

The ANF, with 170,000 members, is the professional and industrial voice for nurses and midwives in Australia.