Stop work action continues as CHCs refuse to sign on to new agreement

The ADAVB and Professionals Australia have persisted with EBA negotiations for ADAVB members employed in community health centres (CHCs) for more than 19 months, however an agreement is yet to be reached.

Despite the guarantee of state government funding, nine CHCs, Dental Health Services Victoria and the Department of Health and Human Services have not resolved the funding issues to provide their employee dentists with the same conditions as hospital dentists.  The one-hour work stoppages are a vital step in encouraging all parties to urgently address any queries they have about the funding mechanism supporting the proposed agreement, and accept the agreement terms and conditions, which include:

• Pay increases of six per cent per annum in the first two years and three per cent per annum in years three and four of the agreement. 
• Back-pay to 1 July 2018 based on salary increases provided in the agreement. 
• $2000 for reimbursement of ADAVB membership and CPD training costs (pro rata for part-time employees, not payable to casual employees). 
• $2000 sign on bonus for those who were employed at 1 July 2018 (pro rata for part-time employees, not payable to casual employees) 
• Additional salary increases for all level 3 employees and employees at level 4a. 
• Introduction of hybrid clinical and managerial positions at Levels 4 and 5 to acknowledge the additional responsibility and work these roles entail. 

CHCs where work-stoppages are planned: 

One-hour stop works are being scheduled for ADAVB members, who have nominated ADAVB as their bargaining representative, and are employed at any of the following CHCs:

• Access Health and Community 
• Banyule Community Health Service  
• Connect Health and Community 
• EACH 
• Inspiro 
• IPC Health 
• Merri Health Your Community Health 
• Sunbury Community Health Service 

It’s not too late to get involved 

Are you an employee at one of the above mentioned CHCs? You must be an ADAVB member to participate in the stop work action. Please encourage your fellow members to also participate. If you or any of your colleagues aren’t yet members and would like to take part, you must join and nominate ADAVB as your bargaining representative.

To join the ADAVB email ask@adavb.org or call 03 8825 4600. Existing members that have not  already nominated ADAVB as their bargaining representative can email: nominate@adavb.org   

Currently, seven CHCs have agreed to implement the public hospital sector agreement. We commend these CHCs:

• Sunraysia Community Health Services
• North Richmond Community Health
• Nillumbik Community Health Service
• Central Bayside Community Health
• Latrobe Community Health Services
• cohealth
• Link Health and Community.

This agreement will ensure every dentist in the public sector is paid fairly and treated with the respect they deserve, regardless of whether they work in a hospital or community health centre.

#RespectPublicDentistry so that everyone can smile