This year’s wage increase of 3.5% and 100% salary packaging has been accepted by HSU members and is underway. Focus now shifts to improving core conditions and Allied Health award reform. 

Thanks to the wages cap, our core conditions – those conditions that should be universal no matter where you work or your job title – have not changed in years. With the wages cap now gone, we finally have the chance to improve these basic conditions of employment. 

Last week your HSU Core Conditions Bargaining Team met with representatives from NSW Health to push for our claims for increased sick and annual leave and improved higher duties payments. 

Our claims for improved sick and annual leave are modest. HSU members are calling for an additional five days of annual leave and an additional 10 days of sick leave to acknowledge the stressful and hazardous work that is done by health workers. Currently some other public sector workers receive 15 days sick leave per year. 

“It’s time for the Ministry of Health to prioritise the health of staff, as much as it prioritises patient care.” HSU member. 

“Health workers deserve to have at the very least as much sick leave as other government workers.” HSU members. 

Our claim for higher duties payment is about fairness. HSU members are calling for higher duties to be paid after 2 hours of work. We are calling for HSU members to be paid for the work they are performing – it’s that simple. Currently HSU members must work 5 days straight to be paid higher duties. 

“The current higher duties conditions take NSW workers for granted. Management takes advantage of the 5-day requirement before payment, and this increases the pay gap for those on reduced hours and part time workers, predominantly women.” HSU member. 

While bargaining for core conditions continues, Allied Health award reform preparations continue.  

HSU members are preparing for Allied Health / Health Professional Award reform. For far too long HSU Allied Health / Health Professionals have worked under out of date Awards, underpaid compared to colleagues in other states, and bleeding staff due to lack of recognition.  

Depending on which Award members work under, in the coming weeks, HSU Allied Heath and Health Professional members will receive invitations to member meetings to listen and provide feedback on the proposed Award reform claims. These claims have been developed by HSU delegates for members and it is important to make sure all members have a voice in what matters most for reform.