WA members back big pay rises

HSU public sector health professionals in Western Australia have given a big thumbs up to the offer from the Minister for Health to resolve the health professionals work value claim.

WA health professionals...winning the work value claim

A mammoth 98.5% of members endorsed the settlement offer.

WA secretary Dan Hill said the offer includes pay increases of up to 14% backdated in most cases to 6th August 2003.

A base grade health professional will now have a top salary of $63, 852, with potential for criteria progression to $69, 761.

The offer also includes:

• Criteria progression from Level 1 to Level 2;

• Continued scope for securing recognition of post graduate qualifications through either an allowance or through the classification level descriptors;

• Classification level descriptors for all levels and;

• A reclassification system based on the agreed classification level descriptors.

Mr Hill said the Department of Health agreed to a review of the work value of the health professions following a mass meeting of HSU members in December 2003.

The department also agreed to provide support by appointing a full time Project Officer.

"The HSU convened working groups of members from the Health Professions to develop submissions demonstrating changes in work value," Mr Hill said.

"The final submissions total well over 1,500 pages. On behalf of all members we thank the hundreds of members who contributed to this process.

"The submissions were then provided to the Department of Health for their initial formal response to the HSU log of claims.

"Following negotiations with the Minister's Office and the Department a first offer was received on 23rd September 2005.

"This offer was considered by the HSU Health Professionals Forum representatives and it was determined that a counter offer should be made. Further negotiations ensued , a counter offer was made, and a revised offer was received from the Minister for Health on 19th October 2005.

"The HSU are now working with the Department of Health to implement the pay increases and resolve the outstanding issues, including proper recognition of post graduate qualifications.

"This has been a fantastic result made possible by the active involvement of hundreds of HSU WA health professional members."

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Last Modified: Tuesday, 13-Dec-2005 10:20:16 EST