Guild says APESMA wrong
July 25, 2011
ATTACKS launched on the
Pharmacy Guild of Australia by the
Association of Professional
Engineers, Scientists and Managers,
Australia (PD last week) arise from
the latter’s misunderstanding of
the Pharmacy Industry Award 2010
(PIA) according to the Guild.
The furore, which has been
simmering over the last fortnight,
began when APESMA accused
community pharmacies of
underpaying more than half of all
Australia’s supervised interns.
The Guild demanded a retraction
from APESMA because of its
statement, however this call fell on
deaf ears, with APESMA striking
back by accusing the Guild of
“sticking its head in the sand”.
“The reason APESMA has more
pharmacy members than ever
before is because pharmacists are
sick of being paid illegally low rates
of pay,” the union group claimed.
Responding to the latest attack,
the Guild said it did not condone
any underpayment of wages.
“I would be concerned if the
claims by APESMA are accurate,”
said Guild President Kos Sclavos.
“The Guild has produced a
plethora of resources for our
members to help them understand
their obligations during what is a
complex four years of transition to
the modern award for our
industry,” he added.
The Guild also countered
underpayment claims saying “the
penalty rates published in the
Pharmacy Industry Award are the
final rates, which may not apply
until 2014.
“For example, currently the
Sunday penalty for pharmacist
employees in NSW is 170 per cent
and this is increasing to the final
penalty of 200 per cent by 2014.”
Impacts of PIA rates will vary from
state to state, Sclavos said, adding
that In Victoria and SA the PIA rates
and penalties are very similar to
the old award.
“The move towards national wage
and penalty parity is under way,”
Sclavos added.
“Regardless of the business
structure of the employer,
pharmacist employees will have the
same minimum protection in terms
of legislated pay; legislated penalty
regimes; allowances; overtime; and
the span of ordinary hours.
“While this will not be national
until 2014 – with the exception of a
few pharmacies in Western
Australia – everyone is moving to
the same end point,” he added.
Interns who are concerned about
their pay rates are being advised by
the Guild to speak to their employer
or to its workplace relations
advisors - details at guild.org.au.
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