Hospital workers win a battle
By Roberto Jorquera
MELBOURNE — After eight days of Industrial bans, management at the Austin Hospital was forced to back down and reach agreement with the Health Services Union (HSUA) on procedures to be followed in the event of contracting out of services.
The industrial campaign took the form of bans, snap stoppages and regular general and shop steward meetings.
The proposed agreement stated that, "The Austin Hospital has no intention of contracting out services in any areas covered by the HSUA. If through circumstances beyond our control we are forced to look at contracting out of services, the Austin will give an undertaking to the HSUA that there will be full and open negotiations, consultation and agreement about the tendering process and employee entitlements for HSUA members consequential to the contracting out of any service prior to any tenders being sought. Neither party will unreasonably withhold agreement."
The proposal was agreed to by management early on the morning of November 19. Jan Armstrong, state secretary of the HSUA, then recommended that it be endorsed. After a meeting of shop stewards discussed the proposal, it was presented to a general meeting of members were it was endorsed unanimously after discussion and clarification.
The success of the industrial campaign was due to the unity shown by members at the Austin and a further 14 hospitals across the state. Daily shop steward and general meetings of all members kept people informed and allowed for democratic decisions on what action to take.
From the first day, members had voted that if anyone was stood down, they would walk out indefinitely and immediately set up picket lines. By the seventh day of the dispute, members at other hospitals had passed motions stating that they would begin industrial action if any member was stood down at the Austin.
Other support came from the TWU and the building workers' union, which stated that they would not cross any picket lines at the Austin.