Here's the story I told Health. - Negotiations have begun!

Yesterday (Wednesday the 7th of July) was a really important day for HPs. Negotiations for HP EB2 started with Queensland Health - in a meeting that went from 11am-12pm at Queensland Health head office in Charlotte Street.

Queensland Health had called the meeting to do some 'scene setting' about the negotiations.

They outlined that the government was going through a difficult economic time, that the wages offer was 2.5%, that HPs had made great achievements out of HPEB1 and that they wanted to 'consolidate' that.
They also said they had some claims to make back to the HP workforce but they didn't outline what they were.

A Government Industrial Relations negotiator outlined that they would be negotiating a 3 year agreement with us and that if negotiations did not conclude by the end of September then there would be no backdating of the next pay-rise to 1 September 2010.

As a union delegate, we had been meeting as a Steering Committee with 12 other union delegates from our HP EB Steering Committee and our officials prior to the meeting with Health. We had our own scene setting message for Queensland Health and this is what I said, along with Richard Boytar (a delegate from the LHMU at the PAH).

There were 13 union delegates in the room and 4 union office staff, sitting around a table with 6 Queensland Health management representatives and a Government (Public Sector Industrial Relations) negotiator.

I know this is a long email but these are the words that we used to explain what HPs are feeling and what this agreement means to us - I thought I'd share this with you.

I said:

"Health Practitioners are a dedicated, professional, highly skilled and enthusiastic workforce who ensure Queenslanders get the very best health care.

HP's have let us know that the feeling for them currently is two-fold. I will talk about one aspect and Richard will talk about the other.

At the outset HPEB1 was supposed to be about improving recruitment and retention, however delays in implementation has bred cynicism, lowered morale and not assisted in recruiting and retaining HP's .

HP's are losing sight of the positives from HP EB1 due to the delays in implementation and this has been compounded by the payroll crisis. Poor bureaucratic implementation of payroll and HPEB1 has made progress sluggish and confusing. This has greatly impacted on service delivery and filling vacancies is difficult and stalled by uncertainty and delays.

Further, some managers across the state were not trained or briefed and they then disrupted or undermined progress for HP's under HPEB1.

We need an efficient and defined pathway to escalate problems or disputes.

Finally, thinking there is agreement and then having to renegotiate "settled" matters causes problems and lowers morale.

But this could change with a good agreement, coming out of this process, there is an opportunity for HP's to have their faith restored by their employer.'

Then Richard said:

"For starters, for HPs to not have a real pay cut would mean a lot (2.5% a year would mean this). So would clarity around roles, work level statements and processes.

This would greatly assist in recruitment and selection. In turn making it easier for managers to budget for service requirements and planning.

With a good agreement outcome we can continue to close the divide between the perception of private and public healthcare outcomes.
Queensland can maintain the great HP skill base and assist in the continuum of care for all Queenslanders.

We can maintain the balance and make progress with research and essential clinical education. With a good agreement, the excellent highly skilled professionals who work for Queensland Health will stick around and do the very best in clinical education.

If we get this right Queensland Health can publicize a great win and get some public and worker confidence back.

With the National Health Reforms on the agenda HP's are critical to meeting the goals of this program and key performance indicators for Queensland hospitals.

HP's have already reduced emergency departments waiting times- radiographers, pathology workers, psychologists, social workers and physiotherapists to name a few - make sure of this. National registration is also an important issue.

A highly skilled workforce who feel valued is one that is more productive.

Queensland taxpayers and patients deserve the best health system. HP's are critical to preventative health services and care services. We help meet Q2 targets and National Partnership Agreements. The money paid to clinicians ensures patient outcomes are at the centre of things, and improves services and outcomes.

If we can construct a good agreement we can continue to deliver for Queensland Health and have a happier and productive workforce to set a good foundation to face the issues, that world-wide are affecting health service delivery in the near future."

I was really glad we got to have our say and it was important that management heard it direct from delegates. That was the scene we set, along with the log of claims of all the things members want that we sent to management on the 24th of June. They noted that they had received it which was good!

The first full negotiation meeting will be on Tuesday the 20th of July.
I'll be at that meeting along with 7 other delegates and 2 union advocates. I'll keep you posted about how that meeting goes.

You can show your support for these negotiations throughout the next 8 weeks by getting involved at your workplace. We'll be sending out more updates, posters, stickers and asking you to participate in various activities to let Queensland Health know that we're ready, prepared and serious. For the log of claims and campaign updates visit www.hpstrongertogether.com.

If you are aware of someone you work with who is not a member , now is the time to ask them to join. They can do this online at www.hpstrongertogether.com.

With the support of all HP delegates and members standing together we can achieve a great collective bargaining outcome despite the economic climate and the slow implementation of HP1.

I know we deserve better and as a union that's what we can achieve.

In union,

Peter Cattach and Richard Boytar
Delegates for the QPSU and LHMU
HP EB Steering Committee