This is the text of Item 8 in the VHIA Bulletin 1559, 2 March 2010:

“8. BOXING DAY HSUA 4, MEDICAL SCIENTISTS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, PHARMACISTS

Further to bulletins 1533 and 1547 in relation to the additional Boxing Day in 2009, we have had queries from members about the interaction of the additional day for Monday to Friday Workers covered by the HSUA 4.  Bulletins 1533 and 1547 reiterated that both public holidays applied to employees and would attract a benefit.

Monday to Friday full time workers - given the particular arrangements with Boxing Day 2009 being an additional day - staff covered by the HSUA 4 Agreement / Award would be entitled to a benefit for both days in the following circumstances:

• If they worked on 28 December they should have received the applicable penalties; or
• if they took the day off ie they were not required to work on Monday 28th then they should have received a days pay;
• Such staff that did not work on that Saturday (26 December) should have also received the usual rostered off penalty or time off in lieu as prescribed by the award.”

The ‘rostered off’ penalty for the Boxing Day holiday Saturday 26 December 20009 is as follows:

One and a half day’s pay in addition to the weekly wage or one and a half day’s time off at a time convenient to the employer without loss of pay in lieu thereof.

We recommend that if you are a full-time Monday to Friday worker in the public sector and have not been paid the additional one and a half days pay or taken the equivalent time off on pay, you should now

(a) take the issue up with your immediate manager
(b) contact the pay office or human resources department and advise them of Item 8 in VHIA Bulletin  1559
(c) decide whether you want one and a half day’s pay or the equivalent time off on pay
(d) remind your co-workers that they should thank the Union for persisting in following up the matter with the VHIA