Pharmacy Daily | PPA to seek review of graduate wages

EMPLOYEE pharmacists' union, Professional Pharmacists Australia (PPA), is continuing its campaign to improve pharmacy graduates' pay and conditions.

PPA CEO, Jill McCabe, told Pharmacy Daily that the organisation will lodge an application with the Fair Work Commission (FWC) for a review of graduate wages under the Pharmacy Industry Award 2020.

Earlier this week the Union noted that "the review of graduate rates in the Pharmacy Award was to proceed as a continuation of the four-yearly award review process".

"However, along with the resignation of FWC President, Iain Ross, the FWC recently announced a conclusion to the four-yearly award reviews," the PPA reported.

"At a directions hearing held on 08 Nov, Acting FWC President, Adam Hatcher, indicated to the parties that the Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers Australia (APESMA) [now known as Professional Australia, of which the PPA is a member] could initiate a fresh application in relation to the outstanding graduate rates in the Pharmacy Award."

McCabe said the decision was consistent with the FWC's statement about the conclusion of the four-yearly review process.

"This is not a setback for pharmacy graduates as PPA is still able to make an application about this matter, and will be lodging that application shortly," she said.

PPA put forward an application to the FWC in 2019 to have pharmacy pay rates increased, which resulted in a 5% increase to the Award rate, despite opposition from the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, the Union said.

However, the pay increase was not passed on to pharmacy graduates.