Welcome to the Medical Scientists Association of Victoria (MSAV) the Victorian Psychologists Association Inc (VPA Inc) and the Association of Hospital Pharmacists (AHP)website.

MSAV, VPA Inc and AHP are the only unions in Victoria which specifically look after the industrial interests of medical scientists (MSAV), psychologists (VPA Inc) and hospital pharmacists (AHP). MSAV, VPA Inc and AHP are component Associations of the Health Services Union (HSU) Victoria No. 4 Branch.

Union Reps Training - Introductory Course

We are pleased to advise that a Union Representatives Introductory Course has been organised for July 2013. The level of interest shown in the limited number of spots on the June and August 2013 courses prompted us to try to organise another, and luckily we have been successful in securing the July dates. Follow the link to register.

When: 10 & 11 July 2013
Where: Level 2, 62 Lygon Street, Carlton

If you are interested please register here.

Note: most reps will be eligible for paid leave to attend the training.

Your Rights in Brief

You should never work without pay. If you do you are helping the Govt get away with de-funding health services. A new clause in the public sector agreement requires the employer to allocate work so that you are not routinely required to work beyond your ordinary hours. Where such work is unavoidable overtime shall be paid. Where workloads cannot be performed within ordinary hours, the employer must consult with the Union and its members to see if a solution can be reached by agreement. If not the matter can be taken to FWC by the Union.

A collective approach always makes you stronger than an individual one. Therefore if you are finding your workload unmanageable, talk to your colleagues and ring us for advice.

Have any other questions? Shoot us an email at enquiry@msav.org.au with your query.

Your Rights in Brief is written by Jennie Bremner, an experienced advocate and Senior Industrial Officer.

Fair Work Commission Approves Public Sector EBA

The Fair Work Commission (FWC) approved the public sector agreement on Wednesday 15 May and the agreement came into effect on Wednesday, 22 May. Follow the link to see when you will get your pay rise.

Members should hopefully see the money in the following pay period – employers will be working hard to ensure everyone receives their sign on bonus and back-pay before the end of the tax year.

Union membership 2013/14

The MSAV Council and the AHP and VPA Committees have resolved that Union subs for the next financial year will increase by 3%, taking into account the increased costs of running the Union, and the average increases that have been negotiated for members in both the public sector agreement and in private sector agreements. Staff salaries will increase in line with the public sector agreement outcome, with the first increase being in the order of 4.25%.

Have you paid this year's fees?

A small number of members have overlooked paying this year’s fees. We will be sending Email reminders to unfinancial members. If you are in this category you might find it easier to pay by Direct Debit, instead of running the risk of being unfinancial.  For MSAV and VPA members being unfinancial will put your PI cover at risk – as well as making you ineligible for assistance from the Union. If you have overlooked payment, contact the office now to arrange payment. Remember, Union membership fees are tax deductible.