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Winter 2003

Dead on Arrival issue Laid to Rest

The statewide dispute over payment of an allowance to orderlies for handling DOA (dead on arrival) patients has been successfully concluded. An allowance will continue to be paid on a statewide basis.

The dispute was sparked by LGH management, who unilaterally decided to withdraw the allowance despite 10 years of precedence in paying it.

Orderlies decided they would fight management on this issue, not so much over the dollar amount to be paid but over the principle that management should not be allowed to arbitrarily withdraw allowances.

With orderlies throughout the State sticking to their position, management in the end had no choice but to come to the party and pay the allowance.

Speaking to orderlies at the Royal, INFORM was told that this dispute was "all about respect".

"For what we had to do this is a poorly paid allowance and there was no way we were going to allow management to get rid of it.

It wasn't so much the dollars as the principle of it. We have now got a statewide solution, so it is a win for everyone."

"We are glad it is now out of the way and we can get on with the job."

The campaigning spirit of the orderlies will again be needed in the forthcoming round of enterprise bargaining. Well done to everyone.