No resolution over pay dispute – yet!

Friday 25 Jul 2014

The HSUWA is disappointed to report to members that the Department of Health hasn't revised its pay offer to health workers following conciliation conferences in the WA Industrial Relations Commission this week.

The HSUWA has had two meetings in the Commission, and so far, the Department of Health has not budged from only offering government wages policy, which is 2.75%.

The Department is waiting for direction from the government on how to proceed, and this directive is expected by the middle of next week.

The Commission has ordered the Department of Health to provide the Minister for Health's response at a further conference on Wednesday 30 July.

If the State Government does not make a revised offer, the pay claim would have to be arbitrated in the Commission.

Directed by the Commission, the HSUWA called off planned industrial action at Armadale, Bentley and Fremantle Hospitals to allow discussions to proceed.

Further action was planned for other hospitals however the Commission has ordered that there be no escalation of industrial action before the 30 July, and the HSUWA will abide by that ruling.

However, work bans and work-to-rule that have been in place since 1 June will continue.

The HSUWA is standing by its claim for a wage rise of 4% in the first year and 5% in the second, which was in line with the pay rises already offered to doctors, nurses and other support staff.