Pharmacy Daily | Penalty rates union survey

Australia ’s pharmacists have been asked to voice their opinion on the importance of penalty rates, with union group Professional Pharmacists Australia (PPA) claiming that employer groups want to “dismantle the penalty rates that many pharmacists rely on to make ends meet”. PPA president Geoff March said it was important to get data on how important being paid extra for working outside normal hours was to the average Australian pharmacist. “Previously the pharmacy employer’s group, the Pharmacy Guild, has supported plans to cut penalty rates,” March said. “Today we are asking pharmacists to tell us what they think of these moves so we can lobby government on their behalf,” he said. Professional Pharmacists Australia opposes any move to cut penalty rates, “as this would directly reduce the take home pay of many of our members,” March added. He urged pharmacists to complete an online survey “so we can take on the business lobby in Canberra”. “With the lowest graduate salaries of any profession and a culture of underpayments currently being investigated by the Fair Work Ombudsman, the last thing we need is for wages to go backwards due to cuts in penalty rates,” according to March. To access the survey CLICK HERE.

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