HP's - your agreement update

Union delegates and representatives have been pushing hard to move the drafting process as quickly as possible.

A number of meetings have occurred with Queensland Health to finalise the legal drafting of the proposed HP2 Agreement. The HP Steering Committee have received a report last night on progress including the following:

• The agreement will include 3% per annum increases from 1 September each year.
• An additional $500 payment will be available on 31 August 2013 subject to productivity savings being achieved.
• All existing conditions from HP1 will be maintained under HP2. In particular, HP2 will specifically state that existing retention payments will continue for the life of HP2. (HP1 said that retention payments would be 'limited to' the life of HP1), however, Queensland Health have agreed existing payments will continue for the life of HP2 in line with the 'no cuts' commitment. The Radiation Therapy allowance will continue to be indexed and continue to be paid to physicists.
• Projects which have not been completed or which are on-going from HP1 will also continue including the review of on-call arrangements, Models of Care/Workforce re-design, continuing implementation of fatigue management outcomes
• Establishment of a centralised process for Phase 3 and on-going evaluations (including an appeals process which includes union representation).

Further discussion is occurring on:

• Wording to establish access to treatment rooms for social workers - Queensland Health has been advised that it will be essential to ensure the provision of access to treatment rooms does not result in any diminution of existing facilities.
• HP3 being base grade and employment security
• Clinical Education management Initiative
• Ministerial Taskforce

All in all, progress has been good and it is hoped that the final draft will be available on 1 April 2011 or shortly thereafter. Your Steering Committee delegates will continue to keep a close eye on proceedings and will look at all drafts before finalisation.

Once we have a final, drafted document, all members will then have your say direct about the agreement through a ballot. The draft agreement will be posted on our union website once it is ready along with explanatory materials - not long to go now!

We'll be in touch over the next week - it was a long campaign and now a relatively short drafting process, but we want to get it right.

For more information stay tuned to www.hpstrongertogether.com.

PS: Many members have asked if the 3% would be superannuable - yes it would be, if the ballot is successful so is the back-pay paid to you with 3% on all the wages you have received between now and 1 October and going forward. Also, it's important to remember that if you resign or retire before the ballot and certification of the agreement happens unfortunately you do not get the back-pay - so do keep that in mind if you can!