The Union and Gribbles Pathology have reached agreement over transmission of business issues arising from the recent transfer to the Company of the Swan Hill Pathology contract. The Union advised members not to sign or agree to initial offers of employment from Gribbles as terms and conditions being offered were not comparable to those prior to the transfer.

A meeting was held last week with ARCBS management to discuss the relocation of the Hobart laboratory to Melbourne. We discussed the implications of such a change in both the processing and testing areas and the effects on staff of the proposed changes. After a members meeting on Tuesday 13 April, a further meeting will be held with management.

A short time ago we wrote to a number of Health services in relation to  some specialist Forensic clinical positions that have been advertised at a P3 level despite being highly specialized roles requiring a large amount of experience.  We are of the view that these ought be more appropriately classified and paid at P4 level.

I have received responses from Southern Health and Melbourne Health indicating their intention to recruit at the P3 level.

It appears that Melbourne Health commenced interviews despite concerns with these positions being raised with MH by the VPA prior to the closing of the advertisement. Each of the responses are extremely dissatisfying.

The Dept of Health has said that the issue of grading & remuneration of psychologists should remain with the employing Health service – it seems that they are saying this even though the funding is at the minimum possible level (P3) for this type of position. If the Department is only prepared to fund the position at a P3 level, then it makes it difficult for health services to recruit at P4.

Alfred Health has said that it intends to re-advertise the position there at P4, but not on the basis of remuneration and classification issues, but in relation to attracting a suitable field of applicants.

We know that public health services are finding it difficult to recruit experienced clinical psychologists.

Negotiations are continuing with Melbourne IVF over a first agreement to cover IVF Counsellors. The development of a professional career path for IVF counsellors is an important part of those negotiations, given that to date there has been no career progression available.

The union is pursuing a number of claims on behalf of members at Southern Health in relation to non-payment of higher duties allowances, non-payment of higher qualifications allowances and non-payment of public holidays.

The claims vary in value from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. We also have a matter in Fair Work Australia regarding the failure of Southern Health to pay part-time members pro-rata for public holidays which fall on days on which they are not rostered to work. This is an entitlement under our EBA with public sector employers.

Negotiations have concluded with Gribbles Pathology (Healthscope) for a new agreement to cover scientists and technicians. The agreement delivers ‘market rates’ for members. The date of the first increase will be 3.25% from 4 January 2010, plus the scientists’ uplift factor, followed by a further 3 x 3.25% annual increases.

The Department of Health has been preparing an Options Paper for further discussion on private practice rights for psychologists employed in public mental health services and elsewhere in the public system. The Paper was due to be released in 2009. We hope to get a copy this week. The Paper will form the basis of negotiations with the VHIA and the DoH over private practice rights. We have been pushing for the Paper ever since the completion of the public sector negotiations in June 2008.