Junior doctors and paramedics seek to escape the HSU
Date:
Wed, 14/03/2012
Spokesperson:
Australian Medical Association (NSW) Limited (AMA)
Junior doctors and paramedics have joined forces to maintain pressure on NSW Parliament to give them the choice to join unions specific to their respective careers.
Even though the State Government has announced it intends to change the existing law to make this possible, the amendment bill faces uncertainty in the upper house.
Currently both junior doctors and paramedics who choose to join a union must join HSU East.
The Australian Medical Association (NSW) and Emergency Medical Service Protection Association (EMSPA) are presenting two petitions to the NSW Parliament to show both public and professional support for the amendment.
“Having unions dedicated to professions makes absolute sense. Nurses know it, police know it, teachers know it – the list goes on.
“People with highly specialised careers cannot afford to have a union that represents everyone from radiographers to cleaners and expect to have the best possible industrial representation.
“Paramedics and junior doctors are both in the same boat and we need specialised unions to make sure we can provide the best patient care possible,” Michelle Anderson, Secretary of EMSPA said.
AMA (NSW) Doctors-in-Training Committee Chair, Dr Kathryn Austin, said, “The current furore surrounding HSU East is only serving to distract it from the hugely varied needs of the many professions it represents.
“Junior doctors and paramedics would be better served by unions specific to their needs that aren’t distracted by unfavourable media attention.”
“The amendment the Government has put before parliament will free both paramedics and junior doctors from the monopoly of the HSU and have great flow on effects for patients.
“I call on the NSW Parliament to get behind the amendment to ensure the bill is passed into law and bring an end to the unsatisfactory treatment junior doctors and paramedics have received at the hands of the HSU,” Dr Austin said.
Media contacts:
Lachlan Jones (02) 9902 8113 / 0419 402 955
Elyse Cain (02) 9902 8138 / 0419 402 955
