Union granted leave to challenge new sick pay rule

The union representing psychiatric nurses has been granted leave by the High Court to challenge the 50% reduction in sick leave entitlement imposed on public servants by a two-year-old Labour Court ruling.

That binding 2012 recommendation cut certified sick leave for non-critical illnesses from six months’ full-pay followed by six months’ half-pay in a rolling four-year period to three months’ full pay followed by three months’ half pay.

The Psychiatric Nurses Association has said frontline public servants, including, psychiatric nurses and firefighters, by virtue of their role in society, are exposed to a variety of health and injury risks.