1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,240 Speaker 1: A real change of pace because we know that Territory 2 00:00:02,320 --> 00:00:06,000 Speaker 1: nurses and midwives have voted on their latest EBA offer, 3 00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:09,640 Speaker 1: with more than fifteen hundred taking part in the ballot. 4 00:00:09,920 --> 00:00:13,520 Speaker 1: It's an overwhelming number of people voting yes, with only 5 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:17,400 Speaker 1: one hundred and eighty seven saying no to the new agreement. 6 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:20,320 Speaker 1: Now joining me on the line is the Australian Nursing 7 00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:24,360 Speaker 1: and midwif Refederation's NTI secretary Kath Hatcher. 8 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:26,680 Speaker 2: Good morning, Kath, Oh. 9 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:28,400 Speaker 3: Good morning Katie and your listeners. 10 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:30,280 Speaker 2: Kath, great to have you on the show. 11 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:33,480 Speaker 1: Can you talk us through how many workers took part 12 00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:35,519 Speaker 1: in the vote. 13 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:39,600 Speaker 3: So there were three thousand, seven hundred and ninety five 14 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:47,160 Speaker 3: currently permanent and casual staff working at nurses and midwives 15 00:00:47,159 --> 00:00:49,599 Speaker 3: working right across the public sector for the. 16 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:53,560 Speaker 1: Nt and how many took part three thy seven hundred 17 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:55,000 Speaker 1: or was it that fifteen hundred? 18 00:00:56,320 --> 00:01:01,000 Speaker 3: Well, definitely they all got the email to vote ya 19 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:05,520 Speaker 3: the Northern Territory Electoral Commission and they were all sent 20 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:09,560 Speaker 3: that and we sent reminders out every three or four 21 00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:14,080 Speaker 3: days don't forget to vote. And at the total, fifteen 22 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:17,480 Speaker 3: hundred and eight out of those three thousand, seven hundred 23 00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:20,479 Speaker 3: and ninety five, which works out to be just under 24 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:26,440 Speaker 3: forty percent voted, which is about that's the normal standard, 25 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:29,920 Speaker 3: which is some might think that it's quite low, but 26 00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:33,280 Speaker 3: and I do still feel that it could have been better. 27 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:39,080 Speaker 3: But the doctors were very similar and the other general 28 00:01:39,080 --> 00:01:43,800 Speaker 3: agreement ones December before last was very similar as well. 29 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:47,160 Speaker 1: So KAS, just to make it really clear, it closed 30 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:48,720 Speaker 1: on Friday, is that correct? 31 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:52,400 Speaker 3: That's right at ten thirty in the morning, and we 32 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:56,160 Speaker 3: had the results, you know, pretty well within half an 33 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:56,760 Speaker 3: hour or so. 34 00:01:57,120 --> 00:01:57,640 Speaker 2: There you go. 35 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:01,160 Speaker 1: So what are the next steps now? In terms of 36 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:05,000 Speaker 1: I guess how many were in favor of that EBA. 37 00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:10,200 Speaker 3: Those that were in favor was eighty seven point six 38 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:14,480 Speaker 3: percent out of that of the one hundred percent that 39 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:19,560 Speaker 3: did vote. So today the Commissioner for Public Employment, Vicky 40 00:02:19,639 --> 00:02:25,560 Speaker 3: Telford and myself signed the agreement, which I have done 41 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:29,320 Speaker 3: and she will do as well today. Then she will 42 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:33,400 Speaker 3: send it onto the Fair Work Commission, and depending on 43 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:37,240 Speaker 3: how busy they are, they may take anywhere from two 44 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:41,119 Speaker 3: weeks to six weeks to look at that Enterprise Agreement 45 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:46,560 Speaker 3: and make sure that it's meeting the test the boot 46 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:51,240 Speaker 3: tests they call it better off overall tests, making sure 47 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 3: that employees and employers are doing the right thing. 48 00:02:55,919 --> 00:03:00,079 Speaker 1: Cap how significant is this agreement and the fact that 49 00:03:00,639 --> 00:03:01,799 Speaker 1: it's being signed. 50 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 3: Off, well, it's long over due. We've never had one 51 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:09,840 Speaker 3: go so long before, maybe you know, a month or 52 00:03:09,880 --> 00:03:14,560 Speaker 3: two over in the August, but never has gone into 53 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:18,239 Speaker 3: the next year or even into the next financial year. 54 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:24,880 Speaker 3: Forgetting it across the line has been tricky because, as 55 00:03:24,919 --> 00:03:28,000 Speaker 3: you know, in the beginning, we had a wage trees 56 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:32,679 Speaker 3: offer on the table back when we were looking at 57 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:36,080 Speaker 3: setting up a meeting in February last year, which our 58 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 3: first meeting didn't come to fruition until the end of May. 59 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:44,200 Speaker 3: So we've been going just over the twelve month mark, 60 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 3: but preparing it for a lot longer in the office 61 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 3: from the twelve month mark. But we feel that with 62 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:58,400 Speaker 3: all the unions together and getting rid of the wage 63 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:03,760 Speaker 3: trees that we've we have a reasonable offer. And when 64 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:08,000 Speaker 3: you look at the other enterprise agreements around Australia, we're 65 00:04:08,040 --> 00:04:12,880 Speaker 3: going to now sit just under Queensland by a very 66 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:15,560 Speaker 3: small percentage in second place. 67 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:18,760 Speaker 1: So kas what were the sticking points and you know 68 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:21,520 Speaker 1: how much of a wage increase is this going to 69 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 1: mean for our nurses and midwives. 70 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:28,160 Speaker 3: Well currently what they have at the moment, they're going 71 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:32,039 Speaker 3: to get three percent at the next pay, which will 72 00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:36,320 Speaker 3: be hopefully this week on the fifth of sixth of July, 73 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:41,320 Speaker 3: they'll get a three percent pay rise instantly, and then 74 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:44,839 Speaker 3: hopefully the next pay two weeks later, they'll get their 75 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:48,320 Speaker 3: back pay right through to the twentieth of August last year, 76 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:52,159 Speaker 3: and then each pay after that they'll start getting their 77 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:57,400 Speaker 3: other allowances and other back pay through penalty rates, etc. 78 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:00,839 Speaker 1: Kas do you reckon that this chain and once it 79 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:03,120 Speaker 1: all goes through, is it going to help us to 80 00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:06,520 Speaker 1: entice nurses to work here in the Northern Territory to 81 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:07,560 Speaker 1: come from other states? 82 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:12,360 Speaker 3: Not one hundred percent sure when we've still got other 83 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:16,000 Speaker 3: states offering ten thousand on sign on contract and then 84 00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:20,440 Speaker 3: another ten thousand after a year. I think it will 85 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:24,200 Speaker 3: definitely help those that are currently working and living in 86 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:29,240 Speaker 3: the territory to stay put and keep working here in 87 00:05:29,320 --> 00:05:34,960 Speaker 3: the NT. But I hopefully they'll realize that the agreement 88 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:38,080 Speaker 3: here in the territory in the public sector is better 89 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:42,320 Speaker 3: than the agreements in the rest of Australia. When you're 90 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 3: looking at annual leave and other entitlements, it's not always 91 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:51,080 Speaker 3: just about the allowances or the bonuses are like a 92 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 3: ten thousand dollar bonus. They are going to get bonuses 93 00:05:55,440 --> 00:06:00,520 Speaker 3: each year for the next three but some don't look 94 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:04,360 Speaker 3: further into the rest of the agreement and look at 95 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:07,920 Speaker 3: really what they get with sick leave, with annual leave, 96 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:11,479 Speaker 3: et cetera. They are better conditions than some of the 97 00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:13,160 Speaker 3: other states. 98 00:06:13,360 --> 00:06:15,000 Speaker 1: Well that is good to hear, because I know this 99 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:18,800 Speaker 1: agreement's been a long time coming. Kas how soon will 100 00:06:18,839 --> 00:06:21,000 Speaker 1: people like how soon will those doctors and be I 101 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:23,760 Speaker 1: mean will the nurses and my wives actually, you know 102 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 1: see that increase in their pay packet. 103 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:27,599 Speaker 2: When will it? When will it come to come through? 104 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:31,800 Speaker 3: Well, hopefully it will be this week on Thursday. There's 105 00:06:31,839 --> 00:06:35,120 Speaker 3: a payday this Thursday, and hopefully the commissioner will have 106 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:39,800 Speaker 3: everything put through to payroll to get their three percent 107 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:42,919 Speaker 3: on their base rate. If not, it'll be definitely the 108 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:43,960 Speaker 3: twentieth of July. 109 00:06:44,880 --> 00:06:47,680 Speaker 1: You must be pleased, you must be happy that it's 110 00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:49,800 Speaker 1: finally gotten to this point. 111 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 3: Yes, continuing to do normal duties within this role and 112 00:06:56,040 --> 00:06:59,520 Speaker 3: within the office, and then have extra work on top 113 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:08,039 Speaker 3: that have been very busy but fruitful eighteen months in 114 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:11,679 Speaker 3: planning and then getting their agreement up up and running. 115 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:12,440 Speaker 2: Kas. 116 00:07:12,520 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 1: I do want to ask you on a separate note, 117 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:17,040 Speaker 1: we know that a code yellow was called last week 118 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:20,120 Speaker 1: for Palmerston Regional Hospital due to an electronic fault. 119 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:22,440 Speaker 2: Do you know if that's been resolved? 120 00:07:23,760 --> 00:07:28,040 Speaker 3: I believe it has. We haven't had any members that 121 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:31,800 Speaker 3: have let us know that it's been happening. The executive 122 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 3: aren't always on the unions, not always on their forefront 123 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:40,440 Speaker 3: of letting us know when there is a code yellow. 124 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:45,040 Speaker 3: And I thought it would be probably bed block or 125 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:49,000 Speaker 3: something similar, but no, I hadn't heard the exact extent 126 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:50,160 Speaker 3: of that code yellow. 127 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:53,560 Speaker 1: Okay, So how are our nurses going at the moment 128 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:56,200 Speaker 1: in terms of some of the stress that we do 129 00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:58,680 Speaker 1: see I suppose within our hospitals. We know that there 130 00:07:58,720 --> 00:08:01,280 Speaker 1: wasn't It wasn't that long ago we had the other 131 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:01,960 Speaker 1: code yellow. 132 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:06,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's correct, and that was due to shortness of 133 00:08:06,120 --> 00:08:10,200 Speaker 3: staff and it has got a little bit worse over 134 00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:13,840 Speaker 3: the last six to eight weeks with staff numbers in 135 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:19,960 Speaker 3: Royal dar and Palmerston hospitals and not being able to 136 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:24,640 Speaker 3: attract the agencies or get the agency staff here to 137 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:29,320 Speaker 3: fill those vacancies. So that has been a problem whether 138 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:33,880 Speaker 3: it's been the enterprise agreement that's been slow and not 139 00:08:34,040 --> 00:08:38,040 Speaker 3: forthcoming as quick as they wanted, But I think it's 140 00:08:38,160 --> 00:08:43,920 Speaker 3: more to that the bed block was happening. There wasn't 141 00:08:43,960 --> 00:08:47,640 Speaker 3: anywhere for patients to go if they needed or could 142 00:08:47,679 --> 00:08:53,000 Speaker 3: be discharged because the age care or ndis type facility 143 00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:56,320 Speaker 3: needing care. And then you've got others that are in 144 00:08:56,360 --> 00:09:00,240 Speaker 3: the ED that are needing admissions. So it's all compound 145 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:04,520 Speaker 3: with the shortness of staff and the X number of 146 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:08,640 Speaker 3: more patients than what there are in the block of 147 00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:12,920 Speaker 3: the Will Darwin, Yeah, right, So hopefully Kats do luck, 148 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:16,240 Speaker 3: do you reckon that this EBA being reached, that it 149 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:18,920 Speaker 3: will hopefully have an impact on some of those staff 150 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:23,319 Speaker 3: shortages that we've seen. I hope so, and I hope 151 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:26,240 Speaker 3: so for Alice Springs because they're in a worse condition 152 00:09:26,360 --> 00:09:33,520 Speaker 3: than well done. But also I'm hoping that with the 153 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:36,920 Speaker 3: great work in behind the scenes of growing our own 154 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:39,719 Speaker 3: over the next two or three years, by the end 155 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:44,800 Speaker 3: of disagreement that will cease in twenty twenty six, that 156 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:50,440 Speaker 3: we will have hopefully almost back to normality which was 157 00:09:51,280 --> 00:09:54,560 Speaker 3: pre COVID, and that wasn't one hundred percent capacity of 158 00:09:54,640 --> 00:09:58,320 Speaker 3: mercies and midwork. But you know, getting down to a 159 00:09:58,440 --> 00:10:02,600 Speaker 3: normal level of vacancy rate which sort of sits around 160 00:10:02,640 --> 00:10:06,200 Speaker 3: three to five percent. Well, Kath, is not up to 161 00:10:06,240 --> 00:10:07,320 Speaker 3: thirty plus percent. 162 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:11,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, Kath Hatcher, I always appreciate your time. Thank 163 00:10:11,160 --> 00:10:13,120 Speaker 1: you very much for having a chat with us this morning, 164 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:16,040 Speaker 1: and I'm pleased to hear that the EBA has been 165 00:10:16,080 --> 00:10:19,480 Speaker 1: reached and hopefully the nurses will see that in their 166 00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:23,680 Speaker 1: pay packet's on Thursday. 167 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:25,160 Speaker 3: Yes, if not the one after that. Thanks very much, Katie. 168 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:26,520 Speaker 2: Thanks Kath, talk to you soon.