The Phlebotomists Council of Australia (PCA) members have delivered their submission into the Fair Work Commission Gender Undervaluation Review demonstrating that Phlebotomists and Pathology Collectors are facing serious financial hardship and have been historically undervalued and under-appreciated. Following the Covid Pandemic these Medical Technicians have faced nothing but staff shortages, cuts to their “tools of trade”, cuts to preventative occupational safe environments to save costs, no discussions with them before large business changes, especially ones that include an increase to their duties without any financial remuneration.
The other issue facing our “local Pathology Collector/Phlebotomists” you visit in Outpatient Pathology in Australia is that they will most commonly be employed by a private pathology provider. Our three largest in Australia are all ASX Listed companies driven to appease the Shareholder. Therefore your “local Pathology Collector/Phlebotomists” is earning roughly $5-$7 less an hour than the Public Sector Employed Pathology Collector/Phlebotomists in Inpatient Pathology (State Run Hospitals).
For Phlebotomists and Pathology Collectors, this review marks the first time their industry has been represented in a review of this scale. Beyond teaching Australia, the correct pronunciation of "Phlebotomists," this is a historic achievement, with a worker-driven and industry-recognised Peak Body now advocating for these essential healthcare professionals. These are the workers who stood on the front lines of a deadly disease about which we knew very little, enabling Australia to keep moving. Despite this, they received no additional pay and have since experienced only a decline in their financial situation and workplace conditions.
During COVID-19, private pathology providers were among the few businesses to profit, largely due to an increase in the Medicare Rebate by the Morrison Government, to conduct PCR testing. This benefit was enjoyed by shareholders, who did not pass it on to workers but instead needed to sustain these higher profit margins.
Unfortunately, there is opposition in the Fair Work Commission’s Gender Undervaluation Review to the Phlebotomists Council of Australia’s submission advocating for an overdue quality pay increase to address years of wage suppression. Meanwhile, PCA members working in certain private pathology providers are being trained to take payments in clinics before collecting pathology samples, using newly introduced software. The “Keep Pathology Bulk Billed” campaign is setting the stage for gap payments to be introduced, with PCA members and their pathology worker colleagues likely to bear the brunt of frustration with this shift. Some phlebotomists start with a wage only slightly above the Australian National Minimum Wage, which is simply not fair considering the skill and expertise required for the role.
To effectively represent the Australian Phlebotomists in a challenging review, against private companies with millions to spend on litigious legal representation, PCA need the support of the community who support a fair wage increase being passed on to the Australian Phlebotomists and Pathology Collectors. PCA needs to pay for a Legal Team to support their submission in light of recent opposition and need your help. As a volunteer organisation still in its growing stages, we strive to maintain low membership fees to ensure accessibility for all Pathology Workers. However, the costs associated with securing legal support for this essential review are significant.
The Phlebotomists Council of Australia being a grassroots organisation started by Phlebotomists who found the Trade Unions representing the workers to be ignoring the sector, the PCA has made such a considerable difference in their actions, first as a volunteer organisation before accepting payments for member associations benefits. This has been demonstrated in the Fair Work Review with a separate Statement of Facts being submitted on the Pathology sector by the PCA with the support of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), demonstrating PCA as representatives of Professional Pathology Workers.
Read the FWC Gender Undervaluation Submission here
You can donate either anonymously or you can contact us at PCA and for a Sponsored Support donation and have your logo displayed on our Website and internal PCA Portal (Personal Portal for every PCA Paid Member) demonstrating your support to the Pathology Professionals. Email us at: Info@pathologycouncil.com.au
Pathology Matters, so do the professionals who provide the service.
Kindest Regards,
Bec Luxton
Founding CEO, The Phlebotomists Council of Australia