Sandra and other disaffected Queensland midwives,
This was raised at QNU MOD meeting last Monday here in Brisbane.
General consensus is we all write to - local member, Mr Nuttall, Mr Buckland, QNC, universities and your
DON.
This
is a time when SENIOR NURSES & MIDWIVES in Qld
Health need to put their hands up and show
leadership, something many are reluctant to do in view
of the L3,4 5 review. Why do most look for others (union) to lead the fight
all the time? Maybe because we have
all been brutalised, traumatised by the system
we cannibalise our own.
However as a QNU councillor I will be continuing the fight for all very
qualified and experienced nurses and midwives. On the Council would be equally
concerned nurses from psych, ICU and other specialities equally affected.
MR Nuttall was supposed to address the next Council meeting in April.
guess what he had other engagements! Not good enough!!! Poor Wendy thought
university nurses need to get back to basics yet now they are getting paid
more, remember the Chunder bucket comment.
From MOD it was
recommended that all aggrieved persons lodge an application for payment and
once they receive a denial one has 21 days to lodge a grievance. Don't sit
back apply for it NOW. Ask for the IRM and form from your managers. The IRM is
about 3 pages long with the application form on the last
page.
This
is what I have done personally thus
far:
1.
emailed to my DON incidentally our esteemed ICM President Caroline
Weaver what did she feel of this decision that effectively slapped us
experienced midwives in the face because of our age and lack of opportunity to
attend a University. I also indicated that I would NOT be
preceptoring/mentoring student or graduate midwives- presently ACU and QUT.
She replied that she had not received all the details (IRM) as yet (two weeks
ago).
2. I
have been in touch with QNC to enquire about the process to suspend my
endorsement as a midwife, one writes a
letter. You do not need to be a midwife to work in ANC or post natal
wards as management keep telling us. Let those that are paid more to work in
BS. This is a pretty drastic idea but if you believe in something, one has to draw the line in the sand. This
may prompt QNC and employers to agitate QH to reverse this
decision.
3. I have spoken to my
local member Dean Wells last week at the local ALP branch
meeting and he has sent off a letter to Dear Gordie... ALP members- next Regional conferences coming
up put in your motions and get rank and file ALP members backing you up. Our
local members are horrified especially when I mentioned I only finished the
Australian midwifery certificate in 1996. (Previously a NZ RN & O nurse in
1979 not recognised).
4. Written to the universities thanking them for their faith of my
knowledge, experience and skill
when supporting their students but as my employer does not recognise this
knowledge and experience with monetary reward I would not be able to support
their students. Again they need to show their
concern by writing to QH if they are so
inclined!
In
solidarity
Barb
Cook
Queensland Health have finally released their
position on the Qualifications Allowance which was part of the award
determined by the IRC last June/July.
This allowance (3.5% pay rise) is for post
graduate tertiary qualifications or post graduate qualifications that the
"employer values as equivalent". The initial response from QH was that
all midwives working in that clinical area would be entitled to this. After
gestating for 8 or 9 months however, they have now decided that only
university trained midwives will receive it.
This ill-judged and unjust decision will create
division and resentment within midwife ranks. Many of the most
experienced and valuable midwives are hospitaI trained and their
initial response has been that they no longer want to be involved with
students. Midwives need a strong and united response to this
matter. I would urge all Qld midwives, whether your school
of midwifery was located in a hospital or university, to write a letter
to the Premier or Health Minister Gordon Nuttall and let them know that this
is unacceptable.
Sandra
Eales
