AMA urges Queensland doctors to reject dodgy contracts
AMA President, Dr Steve Hambleton, is urging all Queensland hospital doctors to reject Queensland Government contracts in their current form and is calling on the Queensland Government to return to the negotiating table in good faith to reach a fair and balanced agreement.
“The contracts are an insult to the professionalism and dedication of hardworking doctors and undermine the provision of quality medical care for the people of Queensland,” Dr Hambleton said.
“Doctors feel like they are being forced to sign draconian contracts that strip basic employee rights and threaten their livelihoods. They are being put under enormous stress.
“The Government must end its ‘take it or leave it’ approach and immediately re-open contract negotiations.”
Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Senior Medical Officers (SMOs) have rejected the unfair employment contracts, as have their colleagues in Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Nambour, and Prince Charles Hospital.
Dr Hambleton last night attended the Medical Staff Association meeting at Royal Brisbane to hear the views of doctors affected by the contracts dispute.
“The overwhelming feedback from the meeting was that the contracts are unfair, unbalanced and will disadvantage all of the senior doctors currently working in the Queensland health system,” Dr Hambleton said.
“The Federal AMA, AMA Queensland, the Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation (ASMOF), and ASMOF Queensland are all hearing the same message from the coalface.
“The contracts currently on offer remove important employment rights and allow Queensland Health to make unilateral changes to contracts on a whim.
“These are good doctors who work around the clock saving lives and repairing damaged bodies. They are teaching and training the next generation of doctors to look after the patients of tomorrow.
“The people of Queensland need and appreciate the specialised world class work of Queensland doctors. They want the confidence and security that these doctors will be there to help them when they or a family member are sick or injured.
“The Queensland Government contracts are shattering that confidence and security,” Dr Hambleton said.
7 February 2014
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