PPA nods wage hike
June 6, 2014
PROFESSIONAL Pharmacists
Australia (PPA) said it welcomed the
Fair Work Commission’s decision to
increase minimum wage by 3% but
that more needed to be done.
President Dr Geoff March said
the increase was good news for
pharmacists working in discount
pharmacy, who he said were often
paid at the Award level and $5.61
below the hourly rates of most
community pharmacists, referring
to a survey of 1,200 pharmacists
released recently (PD 03 Jun).
In response to a media report,
the PPA has also called on Guild
president George Tambassis
to reject comments from “an
unnamed Guild spokesperson” that
it could lead to job losses.
March said the only way the
decision would impact an owner
was if they were paying base award
rates, and said the PPA did not
believe anyone who cared about
pharmacy would begrudge lifting
the rate to $24.23 an hour.
A spokesperson for the Pharmacy
Guild said the organisation would
be updating wage sheets and
making sure they were available to
all members through all branches
in time for the application of the
new wage levels in the first full pay
period after 01 Jul.
The Guild made a submission to
the Commission supporting that
made by the Australian Chamber
of Commerce and Industry (ACCI)
for an increase in the minimum
wage and award wage of not more
than 1.3%, or $8.50 per week, for
reasons including that the ACCI
position took into account the final
award transition - CLICK HERE.
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