The PSA is continuing to meet with members and seeking feedback in developing the next Enterprise Bargaining (EB) claim.

Two meetings were recently held at the PSA, to explain the EB process, discuss what will be in the claim and request specific information.

1. Health Professional Managers Meeting. To assist in achieving desired outcomes in the claim the the difficulties surrounding both retaining and recruiting health staff was discussed.

A questionnaire to help understand the extent of the problem was circulated.
This is available here, and the PSA requests that Professional Managers and other
members with specific information fill this out and return to the PSA by fax to (08) 8223 6509 addressed to Gayle Peak.

2. Health Professionals Members Meeting.
   Again questionnaires with requests for specific information was provided to attendees. These are available by following the links - form 2, form 3 and form 4. Can members please fill these out and return to the PSA by fax to (08) 8223 6509 addressed to Gayle Peak.

   PSA staff have developed a draft Enterprise Agreement (EA) Schedule, and will present this to a PSA members focus group for comments. This schedule has in it a number of refinements to ensure that members can progress up through the classification levels.

   The Work Level Definitions were designed to ensure that Health Professionals have a skills related career path and they could progress by experience and attaining further skills and developing professional expertise as well as being encouraged to achieve additional qualifications. The rights for all employees to professional development is also in the draft EA.
   The PSA has stated that the current Work Level Definitions were designed to ensure:

1. progression from PO1 to PO2 on the basis of increased skills and initiative,

2. that the first level of Health Team Leader and first level of Health Specialists be PO3

3. and the first level of Health Professional manager be PO4 with the management loading.
   
   

   The PSA considers that where a Masters Degree is required then minimum commencing salary should be equal to PO2, lst increment.

In some areas there has been lack of managerial initiative in ensuring appropriate classification levels and lack of assistance and sometimes lack of knowledge from Human Resources.

The PSA is therefore refining the Work Level Definitions for Health Professionals into Career Group Definition to make it more obvious what was originally agreed and what is expected between the parties.

The draft EA is also developing additional categories for on-call and shift work, with increased penalties.

The PSA believes that Allied Health Professionals required to return to work, work overtime or provide information from home should be paid at their substantive level, plus the appropriate penalty rates, regardless of classification level.

There should be a requirement for a minimum break of 10 hours between shifts (currently 8) and a requirement that after working on-call, a Health Professional on OHS&W grounds has an adequate break before resuming work.

The EB claim will also include specific categories of Special Leave With Pay to assist employees in achieving a better family and work life balance.

The rights for health employees to be able to develop a private practice, using health unit facilities and utilising flexible working hours will also be included.

The PSA is seeking members to be included in

1. The Focus Group

2. The Health Career Work Level Definitions Group

Members of all classification levels are encouraged to contact the PSA to register their interest in being members of these groups by responding to professionals@cpsu.asn.au

Please indicate if you prefer a lunch time meeting or a meeting after 4.00pm

For further information and comments, please contact Sue Fraser Professional Division Project Officer on (08) 8205 3242 or email sf@cpsu.asn.au or Gayle Peak Assistant Chief Industrial Officer on (08) 8205 3288 or email gp@cpsu.asn.au