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Winter 2004

HACSU women Win Uniform Decision

Female HACSU members within the Food Services Department of the Royal Hobart Hospital have won a significant victory in ensuring equality of treatment with male colleagues.

Female members are to be supplied with uniforms in accordance with the Hospitals uniform policy.

HACSU members recently submitted 60 reviews of State Service actions to the office of the State Service Commissioner. The reviews were submitted on the basis that female employees were not being supplied with uniforms while male colleagues were supplied with their full kit on or near commencement of employment.

In lodging the reviews, members claimed hospital management had breached the Staff Uniform/Dress Code Policy.

The policy states that fulltime female employees will be provided with a uniform three times per year and part time employees once or twice.

However, members say they have not been provided with a uniform in three years and are required to purchase their own uniforms, which must be in corporate colours.

On the other hand, male employees within the Food Services Department are supplied with their full uniform entitlement on an annual basis.

Clearly, female employees had being treated less favourably than their male colleagues.
Members claimed the different treatment amounted to discrimination against a group of employees based on their gender.

On Tuesday, 3rd August 2004, hospital management advised that female employees are to be supplied with uniforms on an equal basis with males.

In addressing the members following the decision, Industrial Organiser, Peter Aiken, paid tribute to the members for their collective action. In turn, members congratulated Julie Hyland who has campaigned at length on this issue.

The result was a clear victory with which members can be proud.