Casual Staff Denied Rights

Newcastle Herald

Thursday December 30, 2004

By ALICE KELLY Heath Reporter

HUNDREDS of Hunter Health staff could be denied their right to full-time employment, forcing them to live a "knife's edge" existence, a union says.

Over 2500 hospital staff, some of whom have worked for Hunter Health for up to seven years, are on the books as casuals and temporary employees, Health Services Union Hunter organiser Bob Hull said.

This is despite an award agreement between the union and NSW Health signed in 2000 to make permanent all staff who worked regularly in a vacant position for at least 13 weeks.

Casuals were often refused home loans, and were not entitled to holidays or sick leave, Mr Hull said.

"It does seriously impact on peoples' ability to make their way in life," he said.

Temporary staff fear for their future each time their short-term contracts expired and "are living on a knife's edge during their contract period", he said.

Mr Hull said Hunter Health would audit casual and temporary staff numbers as part of the award agreement, but he had been denied the lists for 18 months.

Casual employees were those who filled in on a daily basis for unplanned roster gaps, and temporary staff were those who were brought in for periods longer than a week, he said.

"We find casuals are put on rosters weeks in advance," he said.

"And we have found people that have been on Hunter Health's books for at least seven years as temporary employees."

Mr Hull said he was "extremely surprised" that annual reports showed the casual and temporary staff numbers had not shown a "significant reduction".

There were 2813 temporary or casual staff in 2001-02 and 2637 in 2003-04, more than a quarter of Hunter Health staff.

The union had helped to make permanent about 100 casuals and temporary staff in Hunter Health's patient support services group over the last 12 months.

There could be at least 500 people eligible for permanent positions across Hunter Health.

The Herald was unable to contact Hunter Health for comment yesterday.

© 2004 Newcastle Herald

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