On 30 May 2008, the Public Service Association (PSA) endorsed industrial action by PSA members employed in the MRI Section of the Radiography Department at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. This action commenced from Monday 2nd June 2008.

In March 2008, the PSA wrote to RAH management outlining a range of concerns from members in the MRI Section of Radiography Department. The central concerns related to the classifications of members, equitable sharing of session times on the machine and various safety issues. These safety issues included the lack of consistent safety guidelines.

Since this dispute, PSA members have met with hospital management and resolved to temporarily lift the bans with a weekly review date to ensure that ongoing concerns are addressed.

The ongoing concerns that pertain to this issue are as follows:

• That training be provided to all staff.

• Clarification as to what endeavours are being made by the hospital to cover the extra duties the MRI Radiographers currently undertake on a goodwill basis;

• A request that any safety report undertaken and written be provided to both members and the PSA for comment.

• The members will continue with a 30 minutes OHS&W check prior to commencing work.

• The Patient Pathways Review Report. It has been requested that a timeline be provided for the completion of the Review. The PSA expects that the recommendations of this Review will assist with resolving those issues raised, ie. the use of the machine and various safety issues.

The PSA will continue monitoring these issues and a review of any future bans will be undertaken with the members on a regular basis.

Contact Industrial Officer Carly Cooper on 8205 3285 or email: clc@cpsu.asn.au if you have any queries or comments