The Ministry of Health is trying to cut your pay, reduce your career progression opportunities, and change your conditions at work.

The Ministry has made an application to vary the Health Professional and Medical Salaries (State) Award 2019 and the Hospital Scientists (State) Award 2019.

What are they trying to do?

The Ministry is proposing to:

• Abolish the classifications of Chief Hospital Scientist, Senior Hospital Scientist In-Charge of Section, and Senior Hospital Scientist In-Charge of Laboratory. These would be replaced with a new classification of Medical Scientist Manager which will have four classification levels
• Remove the reference to adjusted daily average (ADA) from the classification structure
• Categorise labs into high, moderate and low complexity labs. The classification level for each Medical Scientist Manager would be determined based on the complexity of the lab in which they work
• Categorise the majority of labs as low complexity labs. This would restrict the classification level that can be achieved by employees in most labs, meaning less pay than they are entitled to under the current Award
• Change the classification from Hospital Scientist to Medical Scientist or Forensic Scientist
• Change the classification from Senior Hospital Scientist to Senior Medical Scientist or Senior Forensic Scientist
• Limit the qualifications acceptable for appointment to the role of Hospital Scientist
• Give too much discretion to the employer to determine whether a person is suitably qualified for a role.

How would your pay change?

The Health Services Union is strongly opposed to this application. This could mean serious cuts to your pay and goodbye to career progression.

Given the severity of the proposed changes, it’s vital that every HSU member affected has a say.

If you have any questions, or wish to discuss this matter further, please contact Maki Danalis at the HSU on 1300 478 679 or email [E-Mail not displayed].