2 August 2018

“ACC’s medical advisors have called off planned strikes as significant progress has been made on two issues greatly concerning them,” says Lloyd Woods, a Senior Industrial Officer with the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS).

ASMS represents most of the medical advisors employed by ACC, who provide specialised medical advice on claims. They have been striking over a stalemate in their negotiations for improvements to pay and conditions under their collective employment agreement. The next four-hour strike was planned for today, with more stoppages scheduled.

ACC’s restructuring plans have also been an issue, with members fearing these would result in a number of positions disappearing.

“ACC has dragged its heels on these two issues for far too long and this has caused a great deal of worry and stress for our members,” says Mr Woods.

“However, ACC’s management has finally sat down with us and this has been very useful. As a result, we’ve reached an outcome that our members appear to find acceptable, and we’ll put that to a ballot through our normal union process.

“I’m confident that meaningful progress has been made in our talks with ACC and that we are close to resolving these issues.”

Mr Woods says it has been agreed that no medical advisors will have their positions disestablished as a result of the restructuring proposal for ACC’s clinical services directorate.

“There will be no redundancies, which our members are relieved and happy about. Instead, ACC will reduce the number of medical advisors they have over time through a sinking lid or attrition policy. This was our preferred approach.

“Consultation is continuing, meanwhile, on other aspects of ACC’s restructuring proposal.”

ENDS

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