The vote results are in and you’re going to be getting your backpay.

After refusing to sit down at the table for over 12 months, you may recall that it was only due to the actions workers took in signing a majority support petition that forced management and their mainland negotiators to sit down and commence bargaining on your expired agreement.

Since then, your bargaining team have argued for months with Healthscope that the wage increases they were offering wouldn’t keep up with the rapid increases to cost of living and that their conditions offer was sub-par.

We told Healthscope that they must provide an increase on your missed pay-rise as a sign of good faith and to alleviate the cost-of-living pressures that everyone was facing. However, they refused to do this and instead wanted to see individuals facing continued financial pressure.

So, members kicked up the pressure and voted to take part in a number of workplaces bans including walking out and stopping work.

Whilst we didn’t get everything we wanted, because of your actions we’ve seen some good increases in entitlements for workers including:

• Infection control clean allowance

• Increase to the CSSD allowance

• The inclusion of 20 months backpay

• A PD allowance for allied health workers

• Increases to family and domestic violence leave

• The creation of a workload committee to address workload concerns

It’s great that workers made a stand to fight for a better outcome in the bargain, now you’ve also taken part in the voting process to have your voice heard and voted yes. The agreement will now be sent off to the Fair Work Commission for approval where we’ll be keeping an eye on the process to make sure it’s all above board.

If you have any issues once the agreement is implemented or if you believe they’re not sticking to it, call us via HACSUassist and let us know. We’ll be standing with you to keep your employer honest.