C2001/5601, Transcript of Proceedings [2001] AIRCTrans 3548 (18 December 2001)

AUSCRIPT PTY LTD
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TRANSCRIPT OF PROCEEDINGS


O/N 1543

AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL

RELATIONS COMMISSION

COMMISSIONER BLAIR

C2001/5601

HEALTH SERVICES UNION
OF AUSTRALIA

and

AUSTIN & REPATRIATION
MEDICAL CENTRE

Notification pursuant to section 99 of the Act
of a dispute re filling of planned and unplanned
vacancies at the Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre

MELBOURNE

1.38 PM, MONDAY, 3 DECEMBER 2001

Continued from 23.11.01

PN109

THE COMMISSIONER: Good afternoon. No change in appearances?

PN110

MR D. HAYNES: I know appear with MS Z. MARKO.

PN111

THE COMMISSIONER: Thank you, Mr Haynes. Who would like to lead off, please?

PN112

MR HAYNES: Commissioner, in relation to the issue of planned and unplanned leave absences at Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre Ms Soccio has provided the union with a letter this afternoon which contains principles which have been agreed to between the parties about the use of planned and unplanned leave absences. Commissioner, those principles are consistent with our understanding of the situation reached or of the agreement reached with the Austin. There is one comment in the letter and I have just been a copy of the letter, Commissioner, I don't have extra copies. I don't know whether - Ms Soccio indicates to me that she does.

PN113

There is reference in that letter to the HSUA accept that contracted hours will remain unchanged and, Commissioner, we don't necessarily accept that contracted hours remain unchanged. However, we are not saying that as part of settlement of this particular issue that contracted hours will be changed. So I don't think that is a point of disagreement between us. It is simply identifying that the comment in that letter should not be taken out of context because certainly in the bigger picture and wherever possible the union will be attempting to ensure that contracted hours reflect actual hours worked by our members, not just at Royal Talbot but wherever that situation is a problem which is most places in the public health system. If the Commission pleases.

PN114

THE COMMISSIONER: Right, and the union reserves its right to take that issue up at any time.

PN115

MR HAYNES: That is correct, Commissioner.

PN116

THE COMMISSIONER: Yes, thank you. Mr Soccio.

PN117

MS SOCCIO: Commissioner, as correctly pointed out by the HSUA, we met on Friday with Malcolm Sword, shop steward, and the management Noni Richardt and myself to agree on a set of principles. We have agreed on those sets of principles. In respect of contracted hours, well, I guess that is a discussion we could have later on down the track but at this point in time the ARMC is not looking to increase those contracted hours. But we also note in our letter, which I would like to tender to the Commission, that we would seek to review the proposed principles in a month's time following implementation. If the Commission pleases.

PN118

MR HAYNES: Commissioner, in that regard if I could indicate that the union would support such a review. As I have indicated on two previous instances, the problem has not been so much about stated policies of the hospitals in the past. It has been about the way in which those policies have been implemented on the ground so we would very much look forward to that review process in a month's time. If the Commission pleases.

PN119

THE COMMISSIONER: Thank you.

EXHIBIT #AUSTIN2 LETTER

PN120

THE COMMISSIONER: So on that particular note we will just wait and see what happens, okay.

PN121

MR HAYNES: Thank you, Commissioner.

ADJOURNED INDEFINITELY [1.43pm]

INDEX

LIST OF WITNESSES, EXHIBITS AND MFIs

EXHIBIT #AUSTIN2 LETTER PN120