WA hospital workers make gains

Enrolled nurses, patient care assistants and cleaners in 
Western Australia's public hospitals have made big breakthroughs 
in their enterprise bargaining agreement, with gains in pay and 
conditions as well as a written guarantee from the Gallop 
Government that there will be no contracting out of services.

The agreement, which was negotiated by the state branch of the 
Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers' Union (LHMU), 
includes a $28.60 a week pay rise each year for three years, 
commitment from the Government for better coverage of staff on 
leave, more control over the use of casual labour and 15 days of 
personal leave.

With the latter, personal leave includes the current 10 days per 
year for sick leave and the right to personal leave to care for 
family or a household, and for unanticipated or planned matters.

The uniform supply which was taken away under the Howard 
Government's IR laws was regained, including a laundry allowance. 
Parental leave is increased from six to eight weeks.

There is increased access to workers by the union, including 
provisions to allow for regional delegates meetings. There is to 
be paid time for employer-provided training, and long service 
leave may now be taken in up to three portions.

Where the union has reason to believe a hospital is overusing 
casuals it can examine the record of casual employment, and if 
overuse is proven the union can then push for the creation of 
permanent positions.

Existing casuals and contract workers will have priority over 
outside applicants to apply for a position that becomes 
available. There is to be no contracting out. The union says it 
has an "absolute guarantee" from the Government that no services 
will be privatised.