BEMS5 Negotiations

BEMS5 Certified Agreement Consultation and Ballot

The Queensland Health Building, Engineering & Maintenance Services Certified Agreement (No. 4) 2008 nominally expired on 31 August 2011. Queensland Health and the unions have now finalised drafting the proposed replacement agreement, the proposed Queensland Health Building, Engineering & Maintenance Services Certified Agreement (No. 5) 2011 (BEMS5).

Consultation

In accordance with the Industrial Relations Act 1999, Queensland Health is required to conduct a consultation process to ensure staff covered by the proposed agreement understand the terms of the agreement, and the effects of these terms.

The consultation process will commence on 19 March 2012. During the consultation period, a number of different options are available to assist employees in understanding how the proposed BEMS5 agreement will affect them:

Information sessions will be held in districts/divisions that will provide an opportunity for staff to ask questions about the proposed agreement. Contact your ballot contact officer to find out when and where information sessions will be held in your area.
Copies of the proposed BEMS5 agreement, summary of proposed agreement and frequently asked questions are available from this site.
The Workplace Relations Unit can be contacted directly on the 1800 105 426 hotline number or by emailing EB@health.qld.gov.au.
Ballot contact officers can provide more information.
Union representatives can provide more information.

Ballot

Following the consultation process, Queensland Health is required to determine whether a valid majority of employees, whose employment will be subject to the proposed agreement, genuinely approve the proposed agreement. Consequently a ballot will be held of all staff covered by the agreement, whether they are a member of a union or not.

Workplace Consulting Queensland (WCQ) has been engaged by Queensland Health to conduct the ballot. WCQ will post employees who are covered by the proposed agreement an official ballot paper, instructions and a reply-paid envelope to their postal address on 10 April 2012. It is important employees exercise their right to vote so the outcome is a true reflection of the views of a majority of staff covered by the agreement.

The ballot period commences on 10 April 2012 and closes with receipt of mail on 4 May 2012. If you have not received a ballot paper, or it has otherwise been misplaced or destroyed, please contact your ballot contact officer to arrange a replacement.

Certification of the Agreement

In the event a majority of staff who vote during the ballot support the proposed agreement, an application will be made to the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission to certify the agreement. Should a majority of vote not be achieved, Queensland Health and the relevant unions will meet and discuss options.

Key Dates

Consultation

Commences: 19 March 2012

Ballot period

Commences: 10 April 2012

Concludes: receipt of mail on 4 May 2012

Key Resources

Ballot contact officers (PDF 76kB)

Proposed BEMS5 agreement (PDF 529kB)

Summary of proposed agreement (PDF 102kB)

Information session presentation (PPT 861kB)

Proposed wage rates (PDF 132kB)