Mass industrial action involving thousands of health and hospital workers across ambulance, cleaning, allied health, admin, security, catering and wards will proceed tomorrow following a hearing today at the NSW Industrial Relations Commission.
After weighing arguments from the Union and Ministry of Health, the Commission has opted for a conciliation hearing next week.
It comes after repeated attempts by the Health Services Union to open up the state’s hospital awards and begin genuine bargaining for productivity-based pay rises have fallen on deaf ears. Under the NSW wages cap, public sector pay increase can not legally exceed 2.5 per cent.
HSU is campaigning for a 5.5 per cent pay rise to account for the impact of the pandemic, and the surging cost of living, along with a broader shift that replaces the state wage cap with genuine bargaining to reflect the enhanced skills and productivity of the health workforce.
The most recent quarterly figures showed inflation running at 3.5 per cent, with economists tipping it will exceed five per cent within months.
‘Health and hospital workers are at breaking point,’ said Gerard Hayes, HSU NSW Secretary.
‘They were exposed to COVID without a vaccine or appropriate protective equipment for months. Then they endured exhaustion and anxiety. They have been rewarded with surging prices and a collapse in real wages.
‘We are sick to the back teeth of being called heroes. Being called a hero doesn’t put money in the bank when you’re skint before pay day.
‘Rents in Sydney and across the regions have surged more than 10 per cent. Mortgage rates are about to double and petrol is through the roof,’ said Mr Hayes.
‘We need meaningful action on pay.’
What’s happening
HSU paramedics are holding a stop work meeting from 7am-8am, emergency response will continue. HSU members in major metropolitan hospitals will stop work for four hours from 10am.
HSU members in regional hospitals will stop work for two hours from either 10 or 11am
In Coffs Harbour and Lismore there will be a beeting of members at 10am.
For real these guys are the best they see us at our worst and still take care of us,they should be getting the top job wage just like our so called leaders,cause when it hits the fan the ambulance, nurses,and doctors, kept working,unlike the pollations,bet they still got their wages,and wage increase according to the inflation.don’t forget, the shut down of every hard working Aussie on their say so .No business for every one except for the big biz, that were already sucking the guts out of the Little guy.Are they going to take a pay cut ?like they did to our restaurant workers,pub workers,ahh yeah remember just before COVID .Cut your wage .Why if their not in the job should they be paid especially when their already making their own money?A pension for pollations,why should they get any more than any other Aussie dose, you’ve done your job move on.Want to make a statement in this country how about stop ripping it off, Make our Australia again.