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News Flash
ALLIED
HEALTH STRATEGY.
As
part of our regular process for continuous improvement the
PSA is examining an Allied Health Strategy to address the many issues
raised by members in recent months.
PSA
provides a range of current services to Allied Health members,
through the many PSA Industrial Officers responsible for the public
health sector and specialist staff.
The
Strategy is intended to address wages, conditions, professional
development and career progression. Some of these matters are
able to be addressed through enterprise bargaining others through a
negotiated process outside the agreement. It is intended to have all
matters addressed by the 1st October 2006.
A
meeting of Allied Health members was held on Tuesday 4th July at the
PSA. It was decided at this meeting to email all Allied
Health
members seeking feedback on the following:
1. ENTERPRISE
BARGAINING
The
PSA claim includes the following items to be addressed through
Enterprise Bargaining:-
5%
per annum wage increases with effect from 1st October 2006, 1st
October 2007 and 1st October 2008.
No
loss of existing employment conditions
14
weeks paid maternity and adoption leave
Penalty
rates to be paid if no break after 5 hours until 30 minute break can
be taken
Improved
Study Leave provisions/Professional Development
Higher
duties allowance payment for all periods of acting
Regional
specific improvements to attract new staff and retain local
residents.
2.
Structural
Adjustment
Recruitment
and retention issues exist in several membership areas arising from
structural and organisational arrangements which are separate to any
monetary outcome of enterprise bargaining. It is clear that
the current structure of the Professional classification structure
does not meet the needs of Allied Health. The Allied Health
service is not able to attract and retain sufficient professionals to
provide the services.
It
is proposed to pursue a review of the Professional classification
structure with a view to:-
-
Ensuring
MPS1/PSO3 is first level of management
-
Introducing
an "excellence" concept within each classification level to allow for
wage progression to higher level than the current top increment.
-
Reduce
the number of incremental steps within classifications.
-
Vary
Professionals commencing salary to recognise type or number of degrees
or qualifications held.
-
Having
obtained a second or higher degree, relevant to the employee's
employment the employee shall progress to the first increment of the
next highest classification level.
-
Sole
practitioners to be paid at the PSO 2 level as a minimum.
-
High
workloads are often an issue for Allied Health Professionals. This is
often as a result of failure to back-fill vacant professional
positions. There are already “workload” clauses in
the EB arrangements, these process will be reviewed with a view to
further improvements.
-
Insist
that Award provisions for paid overtime apply
Members
have discussed a range of proposals to address their concerns in
relation to proper recognition of their work and
qualifications.
The PSA view is that the payment of additional allowances in some
ways undermines the classification of positions. It is more
appropriate that the classification criteria be developed in such a
way as to provide Professionals with the appropriate classification
to recognise their competencies, experience, work environment and
qualifications.
Other
matters such as improvements to on-call allowance rates, shift
penalties, and access to additional annual leave will also be dealt
with outside of the enterprise bargaining process.
The
PSA is seeking your feedback on these proposals, please email your
comments by return to Gayle Peak at gp@cpsu.asn.au
The
PSA will hold another Allied Health Professionals meeting.
Please advise if you would be interested in attending this meeting on
Tuesday 25th July 2006 at 4.00 p.m.
PSA
members may be aware of the current giant billboard campaign to
promote the value of the work of members. The next of these will
focus on Professionals, including Allied Health Professionals.
For
further information please contact Gayle Peak on gp@cpsu.asn.au
PSA
WORKING FOR YOU
7 July 2006 |
