When Medicare asked for your views about making a union agreement, the answer was overwhelming – staff want Medicare to sit down with the CPSU and negotiate a union agreement.
Why? Because all the data shows union negotiated agreements deliver better pay and conditions. Your union is committed to working hard with you to get a good deal for all. Your union team is keen and ready to go
Your union has been busy visiting workplaces to find out what’s important to you for the upcoming agreement. Based on your feedback, we are developing a staff bargaining position. Shortly we’ll be asking you to endorse it before the CPSU negotiation team meets with management for negotiations in early July.
Your agreement, your choice
Unlike negotiations on previous agreements, Medicare management are now required to negotiate directly with your union. Despite this new legal requirement, Medicare are calling for nominations for ‘staff representatives’ to play a role in making the new agreement. CPSU understands management will be hand-picking a number of staff reps shortly.
At the table
The CPSU has no problem with management appointed staff reps having a ‘consultation’ role. But it is worth noting that staff reps would have no legal powers to ‘negotiate’ your agreement. Nor would staff reps have the legal protections your union negotiating team has to pressure management for improvements. We are in discussions with Medicare on this issue and hope senior management respect the clear message staff have sent… they want the CPSU to negotiate their agreement.
The best deal requires expert advice
Its no secret that Medicare wages and conditions have fallen behind, and that the upcoming negotiations are going to be tough. Important issues for negotiations will include: increasing maternity leave; pay rises that meet the rising costs of living; Saturday work; and family friendly provisions.
CPSU works for your interests
Your union negotiating team is completely independent from management. Our only goal is to help staff achieve a good deal and you can be confident that our negotiating team has the professional expertise, skills, experience, resources and national coverage to deliver.
Your union negotiating team
You union negotiating team is supported by union representatives and organisers in each state and is made up of the following union employees and Medicare staff:
Kylie O’Brien - NSW SHQ;
Jill Hillard - SA SHQ (FAO);
Lynda Gould - VIC Fountain Gate branch;
Mark Jones - ACT NO;
Bonny Campbell (CPSU Lead Organiser); and
Lena Lind (CPSU Lead Negotiator)
Our commitment to you
Your union negotiating team is committed to working hard with you to get a good deal, and consulting with all staff throughout negotiations. We commit to:
standing firm on the issues important to you
seeking your endorsement before we negotiate
providing you with regular updates; asking for your feedback, and
allowing you to participate in one of our many regional phone networks.
