FSH Uniforms – Revised offer and next steps
Friday 25 Sep 2015
To recap, the union have been in dispute with FSH management for some months now over a number of aspects of the mandatory uniform policy. Our survey showed that there is wide-spread concern about the fit, quality and supply of items along with the number of pieces provided to you. As a result of our actions to date, the Hospital will be paying a laundry allowance, adding an extra uniform , and improving the range of uniform options for members including corporate shirts, shorts, skirts and winter items.
At the mass meeting on 25 August at FSH members voted to accept the allowance offer of $2.77 per week subject to the number of uniforms being increased from three to five. Members were also committed to securing better quality garments which were more appropriate for their work.
We returned to the WA Industrial Relations Commission on 1 September. Out of that conference the Arbitrator determined that FSH management should write to the union with their revised offer, which was received on 3 September.
The key issues from the offer include:
- The laundry allowance is $2.77 per week and will be back paid.
- The number of uniforms is still four (4), unless you work on the Allied Health Acute Roster and will be offered five (5). This compares to the now five (5) uniforms RNs receive, regardless of roster arrangements.
- The quality, fit and range of uniform choices has been improved and is subject to continuing review.
- The employer is proposing an approach that will provide you with 'a dollar amount' to purchase further uniform items (see letter attached)
- The employer has decided that uniforms are optional for HIMS, and will not be supplied in the future free of charge or be paid the laundry allowance. If a HIMS employee has been required to wear a uniform then they are entitled to back pay of the laundry allowance from the date of issue until they are advised that they are no longer required to wear a mandatory uniform.
We remain in dispute about the mandatory requirement for Clinical Psychologists, Clinical Neuropsychologists and Social Workers to wear a uniform.
The union is lodging the necessary documents with the WA Industrial Relations Commission and will now have further discussions with the employer. It is likely that with the package of changes and improvements to the employer's offer since members met on 25th August that there will be a survey of members organised shortly on the uniform supply and laundry allowance issues.
