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The authors of this blog are lawyers or consultants employed by the RCT Group of companies, which includes staff who work mainly within our Stringer Clark offices.

From time to time, we may also invite guest bloggers to contribute, in which case this will be made clear. Authors who are part of the RCT Group are qualified to practice law in Victoria, Australia. Any advice applies to Victorian State law.

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Recent Authors

Christian Farrelly is a solicitor whose professional focus is superannuation. He also has an interest in commercial and criminal law and wills and probate.

Shaun Marcus is an associate with RCT who specialises in workers compensation.

Philip Gardner is a Partner and leads the firm's Industrial and Employment practice. Philip has acted on behalf of Unions and numerous employees in cases conducted in most jurisdictions including the High Court, Federal Court, Federal Magistrates Court, Fair Work Australia and Victorian State Courts and Tribunals.

Creon Coolahan has extensive experience in a range of practice areas with a focus on injury law and employment issues.

Michael Burdess joined Stringer Clark in early 2006 and practices in the area of personal injury including WorkSafe and TAC.

Nurses Dispute: the Victorian Government has an unusual way of making nurses feel wanted

The Ministerial leaks continue.

Dear Minister for All Things

Victorian Public Sector Nurses Dispute

The Victorian Hospitals Industrial Association (VHIA) advised public hospitals last month that during the nurses dispute they "need to connect with their nurses more closely than usual" (my emphasis) and counter or neutralise the ANF's propaganda. The advice went on:

"At the heart of this debate is whether or not nurses can be made to feel that the employers are not trying to "rip off" current  conditions and entitlements, particularly with reference to the role of ratios in Workload management." (Emphasis added.)

The Sunday Age more recently published a Cabinet Submission that says of nurse patient ratios (NPRs):

"...employers and many senior clinicians consider [NPRs] to be a blunt tool requiring modification or replacement... Abolition of [NPRs] in relation to residential aged care services is particularly supported..." (Emphasis added.)

After that, no doubt nurses do feel that the Government is trying to rip them off.

The Age then disclosed that the VHIA had issued a Guide to public hospitals in relation to the nurses dispute with instructions on:

• Steps to lock out nurses (including template letters addressed to the Union);
• Photographing nurses and emailing their images;
• Sourcing strike breaking alternative labour including labour hire personnel; and
• General disciplinary measures including notification of alleged unprofessional conduct to the Nurses Registration Authority.

Presumably this is a part of the VHIA's proposals for hospitals to "connect more closely" with their nurses.

This really is too much. They are nurses for heavens sake.

The Government has the means to resolve the dispute, without the arbitration it wants in order to abolish ratios, and should do so.

Yours astonishedly,

The Labour Lawyer.

From the Office of the Minister for All Things

Dear Labour Lawyer

Victorian Public Sector Nurses Dispute

Thank you for your letter in relation to the above matter.

I have discussed this dispute with the Premier and the Minister for Health.

They say that patient safety is the Government's main priority.

What can I say?

Yours ashamedly,

The Minister For All Things

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