A Fair Work Commission (FWC) inquiry into pharmacist pay has been broadened to 29 awards requiring an undergraduate degree, with union group Professional Pharmacists Australia (PPA) saying this means its members are "leading the way for higher pay".
The case will now affect degree qualified workers in a range of sectors including banking, legal services and higher education.
A PPA submission earlier this year highlighted the relative discrepancy between different minimum award starting pay rates, with intern pharmacists receiving $883.40 compared to $952.60 for registered nurses, $1008.42 for teachers and $952.60 for physiotherapists.
In a statement on Fri PPA President, Geoff March, noted that the President of the Fair Work Commission had agreed that the discrepancies do exist, and referred an examination across all degree qualified workers back to the full bench of the Commission.
"Thanks to the members of PPA, degree qualified workers across the country will have the chance at arguing for a pay rise," he said.
March said PPA would be responding to the Commission, to seek that pay rises for pharmacists be considered first as the group that brought the issue to the FWC's attention.
"It has been a long hard slog, with members providing evidence through multiple stages of the work value case," he said.
The Commission found there was a "lack of alignment in pay rates and relativities" between pharmacists and other classifications requiring equivalent qualifications "as well as a lack of consistent relationship with the Australian Qualifications Framework.
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