EMPLOYEE pharmacists are likely to be the biggest losers from last month's Federal Election, with their wages set to take another hit, Professional Pharmacists Australian (PPA) warns.
Prior to the election, the union had said a victory for the Australian Labor Party would have seen the restoration of penalty rates, but the Coalition's win has prompted it to warn its members to "be prepared for further cuts on 01 Jul".
"We've taken time to sit back an reevaluate where pharmacy is headed for the next three years under the Coalition," the union said.
"The race to the bottom on wages appears likely to continue, with chains like Chemist Warehouse focusing on profits by paying low wages or cutting staff.
"This practice blurs the lines between professionalism and commercialism, driving pharmacists away and jeopardising the profession."
The PPA's negative wage forecast follows reports that pharmacists' pay has been on the rise, which was highlighted by the union's 2018 Community Pharmacists Employment and Remuneration Report (PD 26 Mar) and the latest University of Technology Sydney Pharmacy Barometer (PD 08 May).
However, respondents to the Pharmacy Daily Salary Survey had described pharmacist pay rates as "embarrassing" (PD 06 May), with the average employee pharmacist not working in a management position reporting an income of $75,300.
In its message to members, the PPA said it would be advocating for the expansion of pharmacists' scope of practice in the lead up to the 7th Community Pharmacy Agreement.
"The 6CPA has twelve months to run which gives us time to argue the case for pharmacy to go beyond the four walls -- utilising a pharmacists' skills in general practice and aged care to mention but a few," the union said.
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