Hunter Paramedics and Patient Transport Officers Join 24 Hour Strike

BY JACQUELYN RICHARDS

Paramedics and patient transport officers across Newcastle and the Hunter are joining the strike against government inaction on wages today. 

Workers are demanding action from the government on their promise to scrap the public sector wage cap which limits pay rises at 3%. 

As part of the industrial action, workers will not be taking patients home from hospitals once they've been discharged. 

Patients will still be able to get into hospitals, but the system will be delayed as patient transport workers refuse to transfer patients seeking transport from hospitals to residential and age care facilities. 

It's estimated thousands of patients across the Hunter and the state will be inconvenienced. 

The state government has been slow moving on their promise for better pay, and Health Services Union Secretary Gerard Hayes is doubtful they'll meet their timeline to effect change by June 1st. 

"We've got 43 days until the 1st of July when a wage deal should be in place and clearly that's not going to happen," said Mr. Hayes. 

Mr. Hayes also noted the government's lack of care towards health care workers amidst the current cost of living crisis, saying it's forcing local paramedics to move out of state for work. 

If not resolved, he warns the healthcare system in New South Wales will crumble. 

"We're seeing paramedics now starting to move on mass to Queensland, to Victoria, so shortly we'll be struggling to have a paramedic service at all," he said. 

Mr. Hayes has made clear the demands the union has for healthcare workers, and says they'd like to see change actioned as quickly as possible. 

"We'd like to see a 6.5% pay rise as of the 1st of July, we'd like the government to be able to sit down with us and be able to undertake award reform of a range of awards," he said. 

"We'd like to stop the government stealing money out of workers pockets with respect to their salary packaging that health workers currently have; the government takes 50% of that salary packaging and we'd like to see a royal commission as soon as possible." 

Health Services Union members insist they don't want industrial action to harm patients, but want to ensure the government clearly understands the effect their inaction has had on workers amidst inflation and the cost of living crisis. 

"Paramedics and patient transfer officers have taken action today to ensure that the government is clearly understanding the level of anxiety that people are suffering on the back of 7% inflation and wages not moving," Mr. Hayes said. 

This is the first major industrial action which has taken place since the new state government won the election. 

PKK Mining Equipment Workers Walk Off the Job, Rallying for Fairer Pay Deal

BY DANEIE GEDDES

Workers at PPK Mining Equipment at Tomago have walked off the job for 24 hours, rallying for a fairer pay deal.

Workers say they are fed-up with business owner, Dale McNamara, who ran as an Independent candidate in the seat of Upper Hunter at the recent state election.   

They say Mr McNamara froze pay at the beginning of 2021, promising to make it up to them once a big merger went through with Valley Longwall International, which has occurred. 

Vice President of the Australian Workers Union NSW Branch, Cameron Wright, said workers are now being asked to accept a deal which doesn't come close to matching the rising the cost of living. 

"Dale McNamara likes to claim he's a friend to workers in the Hunter but he has betrayed the trust of his employees at PPK," he said. 

"PKK workers won't accept a sub-par deal that doesn't give them a fair cut of the profitability they've helped create."

After rallying at Tomago Roundabout this morning, workers hope Mr McNamara agrees to get back around the table to negotiate a fair deal and a reasonable, comprised outcome. 

"I hate to say it, but if we can't do that, then we're likely to be out here at the Tomago Roundabout again," Mr Wright said.   

TAFE staff stage walkouts across the Hunter

BY DARCY MCGAVIN

Hunter TAFE teachers are walking off the job this week, in the latest wave of industrial action.

Staff at Belmont and Kurri Kurri TAFE already walked out on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, holding a one-hour stop work meeting at midday.

Newcastle teachers are set to follow suit on Wednesday, as a dispute with the State Government over pay and conditions continues.

Teachers Federation members are calling for fairer wages, job security, sustainable workloads and better working conditions.

It's the first time in eleven years that TAFE Federation members are taking industrial action, and has been designed to have minimal impact on student learning.

Teachers Federation TAFE Organiser Annette Bennett says the strikes send a clear message, the issues need to be addressed.

"It's up to the government, they've not listened to TAFE teachers eleven years," Bennett said. "The cuts to teachers conditions affect the students learning conditions."

"The teachers across the board have had enough of their salaries diminishing and their working conditions getting worse."

Staff walking out at Belmont on Monday. Image credit: Yasmin Catley.

University of Newcastle defends $185 million surplus after union backlash

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Vice-Chancellor Professor Alex Zelinsky is defending management's financial practices, after it was revealed earlier this week, the University of Newcastle reported a $185 million surplus in its 2021 budget.

The National Tertiary Education Union has slammed the findings, arguing it's proof the University's financial situation wasn't as poor as made out to be through the pandemic.

The University cited concern over salaries and operating costs as a major trigger for a restructure, which saw 150 staff members lose their jobs and numerous courses slashed or merged.

But Prof Zelinsky has countered the claims, saying most of the cash is derived from the valuation of shares from an investment in IDP Education made 20 years ago, or other unrealised investments.

He says the union's claims are incorrect, and under the surface, the surplus is much smaller.

"These gains and losses and surpluses only matter when you actually sell your assets or liquidate the assets," he said.

"We keep our assets there for the long-term purposes of the University, which is paying for refurbishment of buildings and creating teaching and learning spaces for our students."

It's understood, the University will sell those shares at a best possible time, on the advice of experts.

Prof Zelinsky says the money is set aside for infrastructure costs, such as when the asbestos-ridden Hunter Building was closed down.

"To replace that building, it would cost the University $150 million," he said.

"We can't afford that, so what we've done is we've refurbished other spaces and we'll have to demolish the Hunter Building.

"No one pays for that - that's what surpluses pay for. Surpluses are not there to pay for salaries, because they're only one-offs. Salary rise goes year on year."

But the union maintains, however, the University needs to invest in its teaching body ahead of infrastructure, with concern there won't be appropriate staff to fill new or existing classrooms.

The union is currently engaged in enterprise bargaining, with some hope the budget figures will swing the discussion in its favour.

Prof Zelinsky says he's always in favour of a pay rise for staff, but the University needs to think about its bottom line.

"It's been a very hard time for the University to attract international students because of COVID," Prof Zelinsky said.

"It's now starting to come back, and if it does come back and our revenue starts to grow, of course we could afford pay rises.

"But they have to be sustainable - the University cannot go forward budgeting on losses and using its balance sheet to pay for them."

Image credit: University of Newcastle.

Hunter teachers take industrial action for second time in six months

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Hunter teachers are walking off the job today, just a week into the school term, taking industrial action for the second time in just six months.

It's part of a push for better working conditions and pay rates.

The NSW Teachers Federation also striked in December, but the union says the Premier hasn't met their demands.

Today's action comes after a new poll was released, finding almost three quarters of teachers in Newcastle felt their workload was unmanageable and they were reconsidering their career because of it.

Regional Organiser Jack Galvin Waight says

"Teachers across the Hunter are striking today because we're fed up with a government that's shown it doesn't care about students and it doesn't care about the profession," Mr Galvin Waight said.

"We suspended our industrial campaign in Term One, and tried to negotiate, but they refused to listen.

"Teachers have been left with no alternative but to act today.

"The only thing the Government hasn't tried is reducing workloads and paying teachers a competitive salary that reflects their expertise and abilities."

Teachers have already been permitted to walk out of the classroom if Government MPs visited their school, including a walkout at a Sydney school when Dominic Perrottet showed up on Tuesday.

It comes just a day after a Government proposal, to ease staff shortages by endorsing unqualified teachers as subject specialists.

Mr Galvin Waight says it's an insult to teachers, students, and parents.

"This is outrageous, and shows the State Government is desperate," Mr Galvin Waight said.

"One of the most fundamental roles of a government is to ensure there is a qualified teacher in every classroom, with the time and support to meet the needs of every child.

"The State Government cannot be allowed to take a low road approach and reducing standards, but instead address the real causes of shortages - uncompetitive salaries and unsustainable workloads."

Image credit: NSW Teachers Federation.

Hunter miners losing out on more than $235 million due to labour hire

BY DAKOTA TAIT

A new study has revealed, the Hunter is losing out on more than $250 million in economic activity each year, due to wage-cutting strategies by mining companies through labour hire.

The McKell Institute report found, mining regions across the country are missing out on more than $1 billion.

The local electorates of Hunter and Paterson alone, which have the highest proportion of employment in coal across NSW, are estimated to be shortchanged $235.85 million.

The Mining and Energy Union is slamming labour hire practices, arguing outsourced jobs allow companies to circumvent long-standing enterprise agreements and offer lower wages instead.

Northern Mining and NSW Energy District President Robin Williams says the loopholes are unfair on working people.

"Obviously the model that employers are currently using, outsourcing labour to casual contractors, those people are casual, they're paid significantly less," Mr Williams said.

"$30,000 to $40,000 a year, doesn't give them the ability to turn up to the bank and get a home loan, because they're casual employees.

"That's the big impact." 

It's believed, Hunter Valley coal workers could be losing out on as much as 40 percent of their wages, as well as redundancy entitlements.

The union is hoping the upcoming Federal Election is a chance to turn things around.

Mr Williams says the coal industry is the backbone of the region, and voters should consider the issue at the ballot box.

"The solution from our perspective is that we need to change the government," Mr Williams said.

"We need same jobs, same pay - when you've got a coal company employing people directly, that's fine.

"When they employ labour hire at reduced rates, we need legislation to circumvent that."

XPT train maintenance workers stage industrial action

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Maintenance workers on the XPT train fleet are taking industrial action today.  

The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union made a statement on Tuesday morning, with members who maintain XPT services which travel between Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne engaging in the protected action.

It's part of a push for job security, with Transport for NSW employees expected to be replaced by private contractors when the regional fleet is replaced by new Spanish-built trains.  

The union says the Government needs to stop its campaign of privatisation and offshoring, for the sake of its workers. 

It comes alongside a saga which has seen extensive delays in Sydney, the Hunter, and regional NSW, as train workers stage action against the State Government.

Hunter Trains to Slow Down in Industrial Action This Saturday

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Hunter commuters should expect a long trip this Saturday, with trains sticking to just 60km an hour as part of a push for a fairer enterprise agreement. 

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union also launched a ban on overtime work today, with a full network stoppage set to follow from 9am to 1pm next Tuesday.

It's hoped the actions will help secure safer conditions for rail workers.

NSW Secretary Alex Claassens says while community frustration is understandable, low-level actions in previous weeks had been ignored by the Government.

"We deserve some respect, our members have continued to work all the way through COVID like a lot of other essential workers have been," Mr Claassens.

"We've done our job really really well, and we deserve some respect and we need people to sit at the table with us and have a proper conversation."

Mr Claassens says severe delays are likely despite efforts to minimise disruption for the public.

"Certainly, anybody coming from a long way like Newcastle, it's going to be a very long journey for anybody that lines up for that one on Saturday, absolutely" Mr Claassens said.

"We really don't want to be doing this, but unfortunately we've been forced into it."

Union Wins Landmark Workplace Agreement After Three-Year BHP Battle

BY DAKOTA TAIT

A three-year workplace negotiations dispute between BHP and the union Professionals Australia has finally ended after the Fair Work Commission ruled in favour of workers to establish a new deal.

The new enterprise agreement, the first to cover mine supervisors, locks in key conditions such as redundancy provisions for workers at BHP's Mount Arthur coal mine at Muswellbrook.

Workers had been repeatedly shut down by BHP while attempting to secure protections for the conditions over the past three years.

The mine was also recently put up for sale by the company, raising concern about possible job losses.

The union's Collieries’ Staff Division Director Catherine Bolger says the decision meant "certainty and security" for around 75 families.

"The agreement has been a long time in the making," Ms Bolger said. "Initially BHP were reluctant to have an agreement for their supervisors." 

"It's also a landmark for other supervisors in the Hunter Valley who now concede that their colleagues at Mount Arthur have won an agreement and it provides them the benchmark that they can also pursue."

The Fair Work Commission found that BHP's conduct was unfair and that they had used delay tactics in breach of the Fair Work Act.

Ms Bolger says the union is looking forward to working with the company to implement the new agreement.

Image credit: https://www.bhp.com/