Fight for basic rights - flying nurses launch industrial action
Published: 1 December 2023
Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Queensland nurses have launched unprecedented Protected Industrial Action (PIA) as part of an ongoing campaign to secure basic rights from RFDS Queensland management.
Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union (QNMU) Secretary Kate Veach said RFDS Qld nurses would engage in PIA after RFDS Qld management refused to provide basic workers’ rights including being paid for all hours rostered, worked and spent on call.
Ms Veach said nurses were also seeking better work/life balance following vastly increased demand for RFDS Qld services.
She said PIA would include wearing reflective vests with the slogan Fair Go for RFDS Nurses. The QNMU will highlight the campaign in the media and call on Queenslanders and Australians, including past and potential donors, to send RFDS Qld management a letter supporting fair pay and conditions for nurses.
PIA will not impact the provision of care to RFDS Qld patients.
“In the lead up to Christmas, Queensland’s Royal Flying Doctor Service nurses are taking Protected Industrial Action for the first time to continue to campaign for basic rights such as pay for all hours worked, rostered and spent on call,” Ms Veach said.
“In addition, nurses are seeking rosters and conditions that reflect the significant increase in RFDS Queensland services in recent years.
“RFDS nurses are fiercely loyal and passionate about what they do. However, in recent years, RFDS Qld management have required nurses to work more overtime, attend more frequent calls and respond within even shorter timeframes. As a result, existing rosters and other conditions are no longer sustainable.
“Queensland RFDS nurses are highly skilled and provide an incredibly important service. They deserve fair pay and working conditions and the QNMU will be raising these issues with Queenslanders and Australians.”
It’s important to note RFDS Qld management have engaged lawyers, including a King’s Counsel barrister, to attempt to stop nurses taking PIA. The Australian Financial Review recently reported King’s Counsel Barristers or silks, can charge up to $8000 a day.
Lawyers acting on RFDS Qld’s behalf have repeatedly lodged claims in the Fair Work Commission (FWC) to stop nurses’ PIA. Valuable funds used to engage RFDS Qld’s lawyers could have helped provide fair pay and conditions for RFDS Qld nurses.
RFDS flight nurses are qualified to provide care during aeromedical retrievals in times of crisis. RFDS nurses also provide emergency medical response and patient retrieval, as well as Primary Health Care (PHC) for entire communities in isolated areas.
RFDS PHC nurses fly into remote areas to routinely staff Queensland Health (QH) clinics and provide health care for entire communities including babies, children and women.
Many RFDS Qld nurses hold dual nursing and midwifery degrees and spend considerable time away from families and loved ones.
Approximately 70 per cent of RFDS retrievals are nurse-only flights, with RFDS Qld nurses responsible for the majority of the provision of RFDS Qld in-flight care.
However, all RFDS Qld nurses currently earn less than their QH colleagues.
The QNMU entered routine Enterprise Bargaining (EB) negotiations with RFDS Qld management in April. However, RFDS Qld management are yet to provide an offer that adequately meets the asks of nurses. As a result, RFDS Qld nurses recently voted to start PIA.
RFDS Qld management receive state and federal taxpayer dollars. They also receive donations from the public.
The RFDS Qld’s website states the State Government committed to an extra $334 million, 10-year commitment with the RFDS.
Their website also states that the Federal Government committed to a 10-year, $1 billion partnership between the Australian Government and the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) nationally – which includes funding for Queensland.
The RFDS also receives public donations. The Herald Sun recently reported a $16 million donation from mining magnate Gina Reinhart.
With all these sources of funding, the QNMU believes RFDS Qld can afford to provide fair wages and conditions.
“It’s time Royal Flying Doctor Service Queensland stepped up, listened and showed their nurses the respect they deserve,” Ms Veach said.
“The QNMU is asking Queenslanders and all Australians to support nurses by sending RFDS Queensland Board Members a letter calling for fair pay and conditions.”
To add your details to the QNMU letter to support fair pay and conditions, click here.
The QNMU letter will be sent to RFDS Qld Board Members. The RFDS Qld website lists Emeritus Professor Robert Stable AM, Peter Gartshore, Honorary Bruce Scott AM, Edward Fewings, Dr Sean Rothwell, Professor Sarah Pearson, Associate Professor Catrina Felton-Busch, Dr Sarah Springer and Ivan Frkovic as board members.
Contact: 0422 550 278.