The EBA meeting the other day did not have the hoped for outcome, although happily it did not degenerate into the shouting match some of us feared. Management laid it on the line apparently, but the QNU didn’t budge and are now encouraging their members to take industrial action.

There was a report about it in the local paper, complete with the usual misleading reporting that is apparent when you work behind the scenes. It published a comment from a nurse about money wasted on financial analysis. Where on earth did she get this from? Even if money had been spent on it, I think it would have been a pretty sensible investment in the circumstances, but the fact is the financial advice was from two qualified accountants who sit on the board, the honorary treasurer and chairperson. Maybe they forgot to send their bill?

After the meeting I saw a lot of long faces amongst the nurses, worried about the future. I think the QNU is doing really badly by them. One of the RNs confided to me that it seemed like any moderate, reasonable view is ignored. The union is backing a small handful of very vocal employees that are refusing to compromise on the pay issue regardless of what it might cost the organisation. You want to support the nurses, the work they do deserves to be rewarded but it is difficult to sympathise with this mentality.

In a wages comparison they don’t appear that badly off. They are paid above award, and well above the nurses at other community hospices (one in Toowoomba, one on the Gold Coast). They are paid marginally less than the local private hospital, but are demanding equal pay to the higher paid public sector. And I’ve been told that working conditions in a public hospital are much harder than those at the hospice.

Sadly it all begins to look like greed and self-interest, which is so wrong because many of the nurses are the most caring, intelligent and respectable people I’ve met.

It’s budget, love. (from the Budget Direct car insurance TV ads).

Always an interesting time, I’ve had 12 solid months in my role now and the new financial year coming up is an opportunity to streamline some of my work processes, including the design of operational and program budgets in a way that will make reporting easier.

Some principles to help me on my way:

• Three budget categories – administration, fundraising and program (community services). Applying direct and indirect budget allocations. Revenue by thirds – donations, fundraising, grants. From How to Create a Non-Profit Operating Budget
• Preliminary steps for making a budget, don’t panic about the numbers. From How to Make a Budget: Non-Profit Survival Skills
• Non-Profit Budget Tips for a Healthy New Year include match line items to chart of accounts; including indirect costs in program budgets; keep notes to document assumptions; add a “cushion”.
• Useful to prepare monthly budget that reflect timing of revenue and expenses, rather than divide by twelve. From Alliance for Non-Profit Management

It’s been a week of the walking wounded. Karen (admin and backup payroll person) announced that she is pregnant and has been getting all the usual symptoms of morning sickness; Alison (our fundraising/marketing person) has developed high blood pressure and having fainting spells; I put my back out from some weekend volunteer work; my volunteer offsider Jan has been visiting her husband in hospital and waiting for him to be assessed for a nursing home; and youngest nephew Wyatt nearly lost his thumb in a door jamming accident.

Today is going to be an interesting day at work, possibly very stressful. Management finally meeting with staff to try and resolve the impasse with our EBA. Past negotiations have been highly charged, there is a bit of nervousness about how the meeting will go. I’m not required to attend meeting, but I’m caught up in it of course. Not so much as Ros though. What a terrible strain it is for her.