The union could not represent its members without them!

Do you have a job rep in your department?  If not, find out who would be interested or consider becoming the job rep yourself. – Click here to view our job reps charter.

Job reps skills training

We are planning job rep training for October. We would like to obtain expressions of interest so that we can ensure sufficient numbers to run the course.  Training will cover

• Job Representatives’ rights and responsibilities

• Knowing your entitlements
• Dealing with disputes at workplace level
• Communicating with managers
• Recruiting of new members
• Union Campaigns in the broader union movement

We normally try to schedule two days of training. The training days will single days a week or so apart.

Please email: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it to express your interest. Please indicate the best days - and dates that you are not available in October.

Public sector job reps are entitled to paid leave for trade union training – private sector members will need to check entitlements to leave for this purpose.

Genetic Health (VCGS) Genetic Counsellors Negotiations have commenced with GH. We will be meeting again on 1 August 2008 to continue the negotiations.

Vaucluse Private Hospital We are close to reaching agreement for a 4 year agreement with salary increases of 4% per annum.

AHP AGM 30 September 2008 RMH 6.30 pm for a 7.00 pm start.

VPA AGM and PD Seminar Thursday 16 October 2008. Southern Health – Monash Medical Centre. Lunch 12.30 pm followed by AGM & PD Seminar. The topic for the Seminar is Eating Disorders (2 PD Points). More details later.

Re Aust. Building & Construction Commission
Wednesday 30 July 2008 at Dallas Brooks Hall
Victoria Parade East Melbourne

The Howard government brought in the ABCC in 2005 in order to target building industry unions, their members and officials. The Rudd government has yet to repeal these unfair laws, which deprive people of their rights to representation, and allow for secret interrogations of unionists. Noel Washington a CFMEU official is facing jail for refusing to answer ABCC questions http://www.cfmeuvic.com.au/storage/documents/noel%20download.pdf

Everyone is in the debt of members at Austin Health, Bayside Health, Bendigo Health, Eastern Health, Goulburn Valley Health, St Vincent’s Health, Melbourne Health and Southern Health who took industrial action in support of the Union’s claims.

If there are any non-members in your department please invite them to join. If you are a non-member reading this, remember the government and the employer do not just give you a wage rise.  It is hard won by your colleagues in the Union. Download an MSAV, VPA or AHP membership form from the website and join now.

Do I have a right to a cash payment of accrued annual leave in excess of 8 weeks? No, the payment must be by mutual agreement – both you and the employer must agree. The employer is under no obligation to agree. However, often a payout of annual leave will suit the employing institution as it serves to reduce its the outstanding liabilities.

Is annual loading payable on the payout of accrued annual leave? Yes, annual leave loading is payable.

Is superannuation payable on the payout of accrued annual leave? Yes, superannuation is payable.

Organisational Change and Technological Change – Consultation Requirements. Is my employer required to consult with staff when changes are proposed in the workplace? Yes, the new agreement requires consultation with staff and the Union over proposed organisational and technological change.

Some employers in the public sector are better than others when it comes to consultation over the introduction of change. Some employers regularly seem to overlook their obligations to consult.

Other employers, like Southern Health, notify us and members as a matter of course when organisational change is proposed.

What happens if the employer moves to implement change without consultation? If you are concerned that your employer is about to introduce changes that will have a potentially adverse effect on staff, you should contact the office as soon as possible. That way, we can hold the employer to the obligation to consult.

Radiation Oncology Victoria We are waiting for management to contact us with a date to meet to discuss members’ claims.

Healthscope We have served a log of claims on behalf of psychologist and dietitian members employed by Healthscope and anticipate meeting with management soon.

Turning Point Drug and Alcohol Service Management has convened a meeting of all Unions with members at Turning Point, to agree on a process for the renegotiation of the Turning Point agreement which covers our psychologist and pharmacist members.