The Public Service Association regularly attends the SA Pathology (SAP) Industrial Liaison Forum (ILF). The purpose of the ILF is to provide a consultative forum between SA Pathology and the recognised health unions.

Attendees on behalf of the PSA are:

• PSA Industrial Officer Sue Cummins

• Sharin Prakash - Adelaide (RAH) Site and PSA Health Councillor

• Grant White – FMC Site

• Marco Di Girolamo – WCH Site

• Leann Hoppo – TQEH Site

• Paul D'Amico – LMHS Site

The opportunity for a country worksite representative is being explored and, therefore, the PSA calls for nominations from country sites, please email Industrial Officer, Sue Cummins, on sc@cpsu.asn.au if you are interested in nominating.

The following key agenda items were discussed at the last ILF:

• ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE UPDATE

• The proposed organisational charts are currently being developed and were advised that this may take a further couple of months for completion. It is a concern to the PSA that the drafts are not being made available for comments.

• The PSA raised at a previous ILF concerns of members regarding the lack of career paths for technical and scientific staff. A working party has now been established to commence discussions around progression possibilities. This group is a sub-group of the ILF and the PSA will keep members informed of the progress of these initial discussions.

• The PSA raised concerns about unreasonable workloads and resources within the Pathology Collection Unit at WCH. This unit would be part of the Resources Division Patient Services, as the proposed organisational structure was tabled at the last meeting and consultation was about to commence with staff. Management advised that the resourcing issues were being addressed and were also looking at operational processes, which may mean changing processes and not require additional resources, eg. neonatal collections.

• Management advised that they are currently in discussions with the regions and SA Health regarding the transfer of SA Pathology biomedical engineering services at Flinders Medical Centre and Women's & Children's Hospital sites. These services are under an 18 month transitional period at present. Staff meetings will be arranged in the near future. It is understood that staff in these areas will not be required to move across to SAP, as FMC and WCH believe they will easily be able to absorb these staff. All staff will be given the opportunity to apply for newly created positions within SA Pathology. How this will occur will be the subject of discussions with the PSA.

• It was reported that discussions were occurring to investigate the feasibility of SA Pathology being a stand alone unit and not be part of Central Northern Adelaide Health Services, as this would be in the interest of the state and to better service the regions. PSA stated that salary sacrifice arrangements need to be preserved.

• HR PRINCIPLES - The HR Principles have now been extended until 30 June 2009. Staff who gained a reclassification, but pending transition to the new structure are currently on Higher Duties Allowances will be advised of the extension of their HD Allowance.

• BUDGET – It was reported that the budget was on target. SA Pathology is discussing with SA Health about quarantining its own expenditure budget/procurement processes from CNAHS.

Outside of this forum the PSA has discussed the issue of On Call Entitlements, in particular the right of staff to apply for the Telephone Rental Allowance that is currently being denied. SA Pathology will be forwarding to the PSA a formal response. It is the PSA's view that members are entitled to this allowance regardless of equipment being supplied (e.g. mobile phone) and urge members to apply, as it forms part of the On Call Allowance entitlements. (Clause 5.3.5 of both the SA Public Sector Salaried Employees Interim Award and the Medical Scientists (South Australian Public Sector) Award, and Clause 10.3.5 of the SA Government Wages Parity (Salaried) Enterprise Agreement 2006.)

The PSA requests any issues members may wish to raise at future industrial forums to be sent to Industrial Officer Sue Cummins on email sc@cpsu.asn.au or telephone 8205 3260.

PSA WORKING FOR MEMBERS IN SA PATHOLOGY