Union targets 30% pay hike for interns

EMPLOYEE pharmacist union, Professional Pharmacists Australia (PPA), is calling on the Fair Work Commission to boost intern pharmacists’ minimum rates by 30% - from $24.97 an hour to $32.47, ahead of its review of the Pharmacy Industry Award 2022.

With the Commission set to review the Award in Feb 2022, the PPA has launched a petition to secure a base rate of pay to make the profession more attactive to students.

“An intern pharmacist in a community pharmacy earns only $2 more than an entry level retail worker, despite the years of study, HECS debt, personal liability, and ongoing registration costs,” the Union said.

“PPA has been campaigning for improvements to pharmacists pay and conditions for many years, and in 2019, was successful in arguing for a 5% pay increase under the pharmacy award.

“We’re preparing our case for a 30% increase to the graduate pharmacy pay.

“This will reflect the study, training, ongoing professional development requirements, skills and expertise of graduate pharmacists, and is also a reflection of the increasingly significant role pharmacists play in our healthcare sector.

“We’re confident a 30% increase... will modernise the pay conditions of graduate pharmacists.

“This will help attract high school students to pharmacy, attract graduate pharmacists to pharmacy as a profession and retain existing young pharmacists in the industry.”

MEANWHILE, in a video posted on Facebook, PPA President, Geoff Marsh, praised the commitment pharmacists have shown throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

“That commitment has been in the face of working in a climate of low morale caused by poor pay and conditions, a lack of career progression and high workloads,” he said.

“I’m particularly concerned about the high workload you’re facing... you can only safely do so much.”