By Angus Thomson

Copyright smh

Chin said the allowance, which he called a “discrete and stopgap measure”, would last for 12 months and be absorbed into any deal for wider junior and senior medical staff represented by their union, the Australian Salaried Medical Officers’ Federation (ASMOF NSW).

Chin did not grant any of the union’s other claims brought in the case.

“This allowance is granted not to reward ASMOF’s industrial strategy in facilitating mass resignations, but because a special case has been made out,” he said.

More than 200 staff specialist psychiatrists tendered their resignations to NSW Health last year in a dramatic escalation of their 18-month campaign for better pay and conditions.

About 60 of those left the system, with most deferring their resignations until after the IRC determination. Some converted to higher-paying visiting medical officer and locum contracts.