MEDIA RELEASE | 14 June 2019

Professionals Pharmacists Australia said the decision by the Fair Work Commission to provide a 5% increase in pharmacists’ pay and another 10% for those undertaking HMRs and RMMR in the Work Value case should encourage pharmacists to keep fighting for fair pay.

The case was brought by pharmacists through their union, Professional Pharmacists Australia and CEO Chris Walton said pharmacists should be proud of their achievement.

“Pharmacists banded together to deliver up to 15% pay increases in this Work Value case, which is one of the first of its kind,” said Mr Walton.

“When you add that to more than 6% across the past two consecutive National Wage increases, pharmacists have seen an unprecedented 21% bump in pay.

“Its no coincidence that the pharmacy sector is now the most heavily unionised that it has ever been.

“For the past three years, pharmacists have got organised through their union and fought against the odds – and against the Pharmacy Guild – and this what happens when you get organised.

“Up to 21% increases in the past 3 years have now been achieved but pharmacists deserve more.”

He said the case was not over, with the issue of “pay relativity” still to be resolved by the President of the Commission, which he said could result in another boost to pay.

“In addition to the increases today, we achieved recognition wages were out of whack with other industries and will now push for a further increase.

Mr Walton called on employers to pass on the wage increases in full, and not absorb the increases.

“Today, I’m calling on the Pharmacy Guild to advise members to pass on the pay rises in full. I’m also calling on all employers to confirm they will do so.”

He encouraged more pharmacists to join the fight.

“There are other ways we can fight for more pay but we need more pharmacist to join the fight – the best way to achieve decent pay increases is to bargain through your union and if the majority of employees are members we can force an employer to bargain under the law.

“We need to build on the momentum and keep growing union membership in this sector to keep closing the gap between pharmacy and other health sectors.

The fact is that pharmacists who undertake a 4-year degree plus 1-year internship and have greater responsibilities deserve to be paid more than award rate of $27 per hour.

“It seems incomprehensible that such well trained and critical health professionals can be paid less than $50,000 per annum. We’re changing that but we need to keep up the fight.

Media contact: Tim O’Halloran 0409 059 617