We enjoy a public holiday in WA to commemorate Labour Day, but do you know why?
It’s the day we celebrate one of the great wins of Australian Union Members – the 8-hour workday. It’s the day that reminds us of our shared belief in fairness and egalitarianism. It reminds us that workers joining together in their union have the power to improve lives and our society.
If you are working on the public holiday, Australian Union Members won the penalty rates you will be paid as some compensation.
Meaningful change not only makes a difference when it is achieved, but for generations to come.
Here are just some of the things HSUWA Members recently achieved through their collective agreement negotiations with their employers in Western Australia.
Improved Pathways for Allied Health and Health Science Professionals
Improved Career Pathways for Allied Health and Health Science Professionals
HSUWA Members are advocating meaningful and modern career pathways for all Allied Health and Health Science Professionals. The varied roles performed across Allied Health are vital to achieving sustainable health care. Ensuring these highly qualified and skilled professionals are supported to stay working in health care is critical maintaining quality care in WA.
Member Wins (just a sample!)
- In public health care, first, Members won an independent review into their career pathways. Now, in the public sector Union Agreement 2024, Members have won a structured 30 month plan that will commence modernising career pathways. This will include an initial focus on Pharmacy, Medical Imaging, Psychology, Medical Science, Exercise Physiology, Respiratory Science, Podiatry and Medical Library, as well as an uplift to the pay of hundreds of staff.
- Members at St John of God Health Care campaigned to win a classification review for Health Professionals under their Union Agreement 2024.
- Members at Silverchain won reimbursement of education and training costs for Allied Health Professionals – of up to $2500 per year.
Safer Work Hours and Workplaces
Implementing safer work practices is vital – not only staff safety, but patient safety too.
Member Wins
Across different negotiations, Members have recently achieved the following:
- more timely rostering practices;
- compensation and consultation to occur when staff are rostered without an adequate break;
- safe rostering standards;
- clearer and safer rules about ‘on call’ rostering;
- easier access to flexible working arrangements; and
- a new Security Officer Forum for public health.
More Permanent Jobs
Permanent jobs are better and safer than insecure work arrangements for the individual, the employer and patients. Despite the clear evidence that supports this statement, persistent poor practices mean there are still very high rates (over 30%) of insecure jobs in healthcare, especially in WA public health.
Member wins:
Members in public health won improved rights to tackle the over reliance on fixed term contracts. Firstly, the job security review (already won by union members) must now occur after 12 months in the same role (not 24 months), and there will be an immediate review of all staff on long term (2 years or more) ‘acting’ in higher duties arrangements.
Protection of Rights and Entitlements
One of the most important roles your union plays, is to protect existing employee rights and entitlements. Too often employers try to erode these during collective agreement negotiations as cost saving measures, all the while delivering higher executive pay and bigger returns to shareholders.
Member wins:
Members at Australian Clinical Labs, in their most recent round of bargaining, successfully joined together to protect and keep what they had – when the employer tried to strip away hard-won entitlements.
What will be your legacy?
Australians have a long and proud tradition of working together in our unions to build a fairer and better society for all.
A great question on Labour Day for all Australian workers is what path will you tread to make your work life better and help the next generation?
If you want to be a part of building a great legacy, and you are not yet a union Member, join today.
The stronger we are, the more positive change you can make.
