The HSU #4 negotiation team has met with the DHS and VHIA twice this week. At these meetings the VHIA sought to explain its ‘log of claims’ to us – refer last week’s Stat Report. 

The VHIA was at pains to point out that its claims were merely ‘aspirational’ – shades of John Howard’s ‘aspirational’ targets in relation to climate change. If this means that they don’t really want to attack our members access to HQAs and don’t really want to take away the points system and merit system that applies to scientists, and the whole log is simply ‘aspirational’ then maybe we don’t have a problem. 

The VHIA concedes that many of our classification structures need to be fixed, and want to work ‘collaboratively’ with us to fix them. The real problem here is the government’s wages policy of 3.25% increase per annum. 3.25% per annum is no where near enough to match interstate rates of pay, particularly NSW rates, let alone address problems with our classification structures, or provide our members with a share of the increases in productivity being reaped by hospitals and health services.

We will be calling a meeting of all MSAV and VPA job representatives soon to discuss the government’s ‘offer’ and our response. We will advise members of the date as soon as possible.

Note that under the terms of the 2004-2007 Certified Agreements (EBAs) with health services, in addition to other leave entitlements, job …representatives are to have reasonable time release from duty to attend to matters relating to industrial matters.

Therefore job representatives attending this meeting are able to attend in paid time.