Pharmacy Daily | Another APESMA attack

PHARMACIST union group APESMA has today issued another call on the Pharmacy Guild to stamp out “illegal underpayments of pharmacists across the country,” saying it’s uncovered 80 examples of pharmacists not being paid the annual leave loading which is stipulated in the pharmacist award. “According to the award pharmacists who are on annual leave must be paid an additional 17.5 percent loading on top of their normal wages,” said APESMA senior industrial officer Jacki Baulch. Baulch said the findings were further evidence of what she called the “widespread underpayment of Australian pharmacists”. The award allows employers and employees to enter into individual flexibility agreements which allow them to roll leave loading and other benefits into their regular salaries. However the 80 survey respondents cited today who said they hadn’t received leave loading also stated they had not entered into this type of agreement. APESMA continued to urge pharmacists and interns to join the group and “speak out for better working conditions in the industry.” Baulch reiterated APESMA’s threat to pursue legal action against pharmacy owners who were “illegally paying less than they should”.

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