Industrial legislation must change to allow junior doctors a choice of union
AMA (NSW) today called on the NSW Government to amend the industrial legislation that prevents junior doctors, and employees in general, from joining the union of their choice.
Chair of the AMA Doctors-in-Training Committee, Dr Kathryn Austin, said that the current legislation is preventing junior doctors from joining a union that will properly represent them.
"Junior doctors in NSW can only be represented in award negotiations by the HSU. My colleagues and I have been unhappy with the inadequacies of HSU representation for several years now and recent publicity about the HSU has only reinforced our view that we need a choice of unions," Dr Austin said.
"In other states, junior doctors are represented by doctors' unions and much better progress has been made regarding issues such as safe hours and training needs. NSW has fallen well behind in these important areas.
"When junior doctors join the NSW hospital workforce they are often surprised to find that they have no choice in terms of the union they can join - it is the HSU or no union at all.
Dr Austin said, "We are simply asking for the NSW Government to adopt the same provisions that apply to NSW employees who are covered by Federal industrial legislation - i.e. employees who are unhappy with a union can seek to join a different union.
"In the 21st century it seems incredible that a union can have such a monopoly in terms of coverage of a group of employees to the exclusion of all others.
"Our concern is that junior doctors simply do not have a choice in the matter. This needs to change."
Media contacts:
Elyse Cain (02) 9902 8138 / 0419 402 955
Lachlan Jones (02) 9902 8113 / 0419 402 955
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