Workplace Advice and Support
You’re not on your own when faced with issues in your workplace. The Union is by your side to give advice and support on workplace matters that come up. We can give you all the facts about your entitlements, pay and key matters like parental leave, flexible work arrangements, career progression and professional development.
It’s all in a day’s work for the Union. You can speak with the Union delegate in your area who can also give you information about your rights at work. They’ll even let you know when you should get one of our Industrial team for more detailed advice and support.
Don’t go it alone – let the Union support you and your colleagues, call us on 9623 9623, 9623 9625 or 9623 9624 or send an e-mail or enquiry@msav.org.au or issues through the Member Portal.
Delegates and Health & Safety Representatives (HSRs)
Supporting you and your colleagues in your workplace are our Delegates and Health & Safety Representatives (HSRs).
Our Delegates can give you advice about workplace issues, help you work out if you’ve been incorrectly paid entitlements like Public Holiday pay, and be a source of information about what the Union is working on and how you can get more involved.
Delegates are key people in your workplace we speak with about trends we see in the sort of issues raised by members. They help us to share information, updates and resources with you and they are key people that help us organise member meetings.
Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) are vital to keeping you safe at work. You might not realise the number of things that could be harmful to your health and safety at work, especially working in healthcare and healthcare settings. They make sure that issues you have about potential safety hazards are dealt with by managers, and they have some mighty powers when it comes to your health and safety.
From bench heights to client meeting spaces, to exposure to chemicals, HSRs are a vital part of every workplace to keep you and your colleagues safe. No one should get hurt or potentially permanently injured at work.
Women’s Committee
As Union our members are mostly women. For us having a Women’s Committee that works on and delivers campaigns, bargaining claims and policies for women is a no brainer.
Our Women’s Committee is active, dedicated and energetic, working on a range of great projects that predominantly affect women, with a focus on the issues that affect women particularly working in the healthcare industry.
Members of our Women’s Committee have been central to our work on addressing the disgraceful undervaluation and gender biased view of work in our sector. They’ve also been central to developing key claims around Reproductive Health Leave. That includes the HSU campaign to ensure that Reproductive Health Leave is recognised and given to all workers, so they do not have to use up their Personal Leave just to take care of their health.
Disciplinary Action and Unfair Dismissal
Have you been told about disciplinary action being taken against you? Told that you must attend a meeting at short notice with your manager and someone from HR? If you have then make sure you call the Union ASAP, and don’t agree to any meeting until you’ve spoken with us!
Have you been dismissed from your role, which is a nice way of saying have you been sacked? Make sure you call the Union as soon as possible to discuss the situation with someone from our Industrial team.
You may have been unfairly treated. We can represent you and any costs arising from disciplinary action like referral to APRA may be covered by Professional Indemnity Insurance.
Training
One of our core values as a Union is to empower our members. To empower members like you we provide fact sheets for just about every entitlement contained in our agreements, your basic rights at work and what to do if you believe you have been underpaid, whether wages or entitlements. We also offer training so that you know what your rights are and how you can stand up for yourself and your colleagues.
In most cases, issues that come up can be quickly and easily resolved by speaking with your manager, your payroll department or your HR team. When you know what your rights are and what you are entitled to, it means you’re armed with key details to take up such issues.
But if it’s more complicated than just being underpaid, make sure you contact us to get information and support.
We also provide training for members who become Delegates so they know what their role is, how they can be most effective as a Delegate and how the Union provides ongoing support, as well as making sure they know who our Delegates are across their workplaces. It’s the same for our HSRs, we make sure they get the training they need so they know what their role is, how they can keep you, your colleagues healthy and safe.
Assistance with WorkCover claims
Members can access the services of Union Assist for help with WorkCover claims at no cost. Get more information about Union Assist by contacting the Union.
