PUBLIC SECTOR MEMBERS UPDATE 6 JUNE 2022

HEALTH EMPLOYERS PROCESSING PAYMENTS

The vast majority of HWU public sector members have now received their first pay rise in accordance with the new Public Sector Agreement. This first payment was scheduled from 1 July 2021 in the new Agreement (to be paid after the Agreement was formally approved by the Fair Work Commission on 20 April 2022).

Whilst health employers have processed these pay rise payments, the HWU is aware of a small handful of employers who are yet to process payments for all money’s owing to employees, backdated from 1 July 2021.

The Health Workers Union has been busy contacting these employers (on behalf of our members) who are yet to process these back-dated payments.

The main reason given by employers for the delay is short-staffing in their respective admin and payroll departments.

Of these handful of employers, many (such as Monash Health) have now provided the HWU with a date of payment as early as this week. All employers (except for one) have committed to processing payments by the end of this financial year.

The HWU has now lodged an application in the Fair Work Commission on behalf of our members against this lone employer who has yet to provide us with a definitive date of payment.

Please remember to be respectful in any interactions with hospital admin and payroll workers. They are working hard to process these payments. The HWU is working with hospitals to ensure our public sector members are paid all money’s owed to them as quickly as possible.

CLASSIFICATION REVIEW

The HWU is in discussions with some employers and the VHIA (Victorian Hospital Industry Association) about a review of classifications. Some employers have expressed an “uncertainly” in interpreting uplift to new pay grades for employees in some classifications. This has caused a delay in processing employee payments for some members.

The Public Sector Agreement is very clear about what classifications receive grade upgrades. This is NO uncertainly. The Agreement is law and printed in black and white! We are working to resolve this employer "uncertainty” as quickly as possible.

If this classification issue remains unresolved, the HWU will this week lodge formal disputes against these employers in the Fair Work Commission on behalf of affected members.

GOOD NEWS! ANOTHER PAY RISE SCHEDULED ON 1 JULY 2022

Good news! Another pay rise is scheduled on the first full pay period after 1 July 2022 for all workers covered by the new Public Sector Agreement. (The first incremental pay rise in your new Agreement was scheduled on 1 July, 2021. The 1 July 2022 pay rise is your second incremental pay rise).

Please check your payslips carefully in July to ensure you are paid correctly.

BACKPAY TO EMPLOYEES MOVING BETWEEN HEALTH SERVICES

The VHIA (Victorian Hospital Industry Association) has advised employers that any employees who moved between public hospitals between the period of 1 July 2021 and 19 April 2022 are entitled to back-pay under the new Public Sector Agreement.

Those employees who left one public health service and have then been rehired in another public health service can ask their previous employer for back-payment.  Employees should ask current employers for evidence that they were employed as of 20 April 2022 so they can give it to their previous employer.

To be clear, employees have to be employed as of 20 April 2022 to qualify.

In summary for Employees:

• This affects Employees who have been terminated between FFPPOA 1 July 2021 and 19 April 2022 and remain within the scope of the Agreement.
• Employees can request in writing from their previous Employers payment of applicable back-paid wages and allowances upon presentation of either: 

• A payslip from their current Employer that covers the pay period that 20 April 2022 arose; or,
• A letter from the current Employer confirming they were an Employee on 20 April 2022; or, other evidence that is agreeable to the previous Employer at their discretion.  

Employers are not required to ‘chase’ former Employees and will not be subject to late payment penalties for any delays. Priority will be given to implementing terms and conditions (including back-pay) for existing Employees prior to addressing any applications for backpay from former Employees.  Where an Employee has terminated since 1 July 2021 but was not employed within the scope of the Agreement as of 20 April 2022, they will not be eligible for backpay of wages or allowances. 

If you have any questions, please call the Health Workers Union on (03) 9341 3300 or email info@hwu.org.au.