News Flash

The Public Service Association (PSA) has received a written response from SADS Director Statewide Services about the travel arrangements for country staff. A dispute was lodged by the PSA on 14 July 2011 stating the following:

• Section 34 (4) of the Health Care Act does not provide the legislative power to direct an employee to travel in their own time and at their own expense to worksites other than their 'normal worksite/office'.
• Home to work travel to worksites other than the employees 'normal worksite/office' is travel for 'official purposes' and cannot be considered as part of the employees responsibility to get to work.
• Employees cannot be required under any circumstances whatsoever to use their private vehicle for official purposes including travelling considerable distance to attend various SADS clinics for the employer's benefit.
• It is unreasonable to add two or more hours to a working day without renumeration and Workcover liability cover.

The SADS response letter requests examples of the above issues be provided to assist with the resolution of this matter. The PSA invites members to provide examples of excessive country travel including:

• Date/s of travel (can be approximate)
• Distance travelled including starting location and finish location
• Time taken for the travel
• If required to use private vehicle for the travel