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A recent conciliation before the Fair Work Commission over the Public Sector Reclassification Review has left the ball firmly in the court of the Victorian Hospitals Industrial Association (VHIA).
At issue is the future of ‘Chief Structures’ in amalgamated public hospitals — a crucial role that provides Health Professionals with opportunities for career progression while working to ensure the delivery of best-practice healthcare.
With the VHIA insisting the clause in the Public Sector Health Agreement regarding Chief Structures be deleted entirely, the VHPA moved to have the Fair Work Commission deal with the matter.
On 19 December the parties presented their arguments to Deputy President Hamilton in the Commission. After much toing-and-froing the VHIA agreed to proffer a replacement clause that would see the Union’s concerns taken seriously. The deadline on this wording is 16 January.
“We do not believe that there is any requirement that this clause be removed from the Agreement,” said VHPA Secretary Craig McGregor. “In fact removing this clause in its entirety without an appropriate replacement clause would have serious implications for all Health Professionals with regards to career progression, the ability to provide healthcare and in terms of clinical supervision.”
“We have sought to engage the VHIA in frank Without Prejudice discussion around this issue so as to conclude negotiations as soon as possible. We will not however agree to anything that will impact negatively on the delivery of healthcare or on the needs of our members.”
“If the VHIA’s response does not constitute a genuine attempt to address our concerns then we will be heading straight back to the Commission to have the matter arbitrated; these negotiations have gone on long enough.”
Previously agreed Review outcomes
As reported previously in HP Update, the Chief Structures in amalgamated public hospitals is the final outstanding matter of the long-awaited Public Sector Reclassification Review.
Already negotiated and agreed are a series of reforms that will deliver improved pay and career paths for public sector Health Professionals. These include:
- An additional increment at the current top of Grade 2 for all Health Professionals covered by the VHPA.
- New job classifications and career structures for Radiation Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, Sonographers and Clinical Coders.
- Better access to Study Leave and Time Off In Lieu for conference leave undertaken on weekends.
- Continuing Professional Development (CPD) allowances from $150 to $400 a year—with the greater sum going to HPs classified at Grade 3 and above.
- An additional 11 Clinical Educator positions to be employed at worksites across the State.
Again, you guys don’t realise that the log jam is happening, and will continue to, at the grade 1 to grade 2 artificially applied barrier. I see a lot of benefits for people above this barrier in this agreement.
Hi Mike. The data previously collected by the Union suggests that the major bottleneck for members iS certainly at the top of Grade 2 and an extra ‘year’ at the top
of G2 was their most desired outcome heading into the review. Note that Grade 1s also got the largest wage increases when the deal was originally struck. However we take your point and will address/further examine the issues for HPs at the top of Grade 1 when going into the next Public Sector Agreement campaign. Regards.
Has the Union negotiated a pathway for a grade 1 to be automatically upgraded to grade 2 after a certain number of years at grade 1 ?
Thanks for your comment… however automatic upgrades are hard to achieve as gradings are based on a set of specific skills and responsibilities. If you feel you are being required to undertake duties that are more appropriate to a higher grade you should contact us as you may be eligible for reclassification and consequent higher rate of pay. We achieved 20 weeks of backpay recently for a member who was incorrectly classified – http://vhpa.asn.au/2014/01/member-wins-20-weeks-back-pay/