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Solid win delivers $8300 a year for SEPC Health Professionals

by | Oct 23, 2013 | Bargaining, Funding, Government policy, Leave entitlements, Wages and salaries | 0 comments

Health Professionals at South East Palliative Care will get at least $5,915 in back pay and a lump sum as soon as their new VHPA-negotiated Enterprise Agreement takes effect.

By the end of the Agreement, a typical Grade 2 Level 4 Health Professional will be $8,300 a year better off, taking into account a total pay rise of 10% and a Professional Development Allowance of $750 a year.

The new Agreement also provides for improved compassionate leave, union delegate leave and sick leave rights; and stronger rights for consultation, dispute resolution and a grading review.

Staff recently voted in favour of the ‘South East Palliative Care Health Professionals and Support Services Enterprise Agreement 2013’ and it will now be submitted to the Fair Work Commission for approval.

“This Agreement is a solid win for VHPA members, especially in the context of the government’s 2% constraint on wages funding for South East Palliative Care,” said Alex Leszczynski, VHPA Senior Industrial Coordinator.

“We’re pleased with this final result—it’s significantly more than what SEPC management initially were prepared to offer and shows the value of being in the Union.”

The SEPC Agreement provides for pay rises of:

  • 2.5% or $35 a week, whichever is greater, from 1 January 2012 (back-dated)
  • 2.5% or $35 a week from 1 October 2012 (back-dated)
  • 1.25% or $17.50 a week from 1 October 2013 (back-dated)
  • 1.25% or $17.50 a week from 1 April 2014
  • 1.25% or $17.50 a week from 1 October 2014
  • 1.25% or $17.50 a week from 1 April 2015

The Agreement also provides:

  • A once-off upfront lump sum payment of $910
  • A Professional Development Allowance of $375 every 6 months – that is $750 a year
  • Increase in uncertificated sick leave from 3 to 4 days per annum
  • Increase in compassionate leave from 2 to 4 days per occasion
  • A Dispute Resolution Procedure that provides for the status quo to be maintained while the procedure is being conducted
  • Consultation on workplace change to take place prior to a final decision being made
  • A process whereby people can apply for a review of their grading
  • Representative leave of 5 days per annum for union delegates
>> Please share this article with your SEPC colleagues and encourage them to join the Union if they are not already a member.

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