Health and Community Services Union

Having heard a report on the progress of negotiations with the Victorian government and health employers for a resolution to members 2011 EBA claims, which include a fair outcome on wages and conditions and action to deal with the staffing shortages in inpatient services and workloads in community mental health teams; this meeting expresses its grave concerns that the government has failed to advance resolution on any of the key issues.

This meeting notes that the Baillieu Government promised to fix the problems in mental health and since being elected the government has failed to address chronic staff shortages and the workforce problems in mental health.

One in five Victorians will have experienced mental illness over the past twelve months, demand for services outstrips supply, growing at 8% per year.  Mental health staff are struggling with the demand to provide quality time with patients to ensure their recovery and safety are maintained.

The State Government must properly reward mental health staff with decent wages and conditions to deal with the recruitment and retention crisis in mental health services.  In the last state budget, they ignored the workforce crisis.  Additionally the 2.5% wages policy is an insult and will do nothing to retain experienced mental health nurses and professionals.

Victorians expect a strong mental health system to be there in case they or a loved one need it. We deserve better than an underfunded, second-rate system.

This meeting reiterates our support for our campaign and resolves as follows:

1. To report all service failures to HACSU for analysis and potential use in the campaign.  Service failures include staff shortages, violent incidents, early discharges due to lack of beds, unsafe staffing in HDUs etc, inability to respond to clients in the community and any incident that diminishes client outcomes due to lack of resources.
2. 2.    Continue workplace stoppages and protests for as long as necessary in support of a negotiated outcome.  Protests are to include action outside the electoral offices of Baillieu Government ministers and MPs.
3. In addition to the existing Stage 1 bans currently in place the following Stage 2 bans are to be implemented following the necessary notification period:

a.    Ban on performing non clinical duties

b.    Ban on unplanned discharges with less than 4 hours notice

c.    Ban on using central staff replacement system (staff to call in known staff from preferred lists on Units)

d.    Ban on admission over-numbers (subject to genuine ‘agreed emergencies’ being exempted)

e.    Ban on moving between units /teams/worksites

f.    Ban on roster change with less than 7 days notice

g.    Ban on attending and supporting Mental Health Review Board Hearings.

4.    Authorises the calling of a further state-wide Stop Work action for varying durations necessary for members to attend a state-wide meeting on a date and time determined by the State Secretary.