Frustrated health care workers will walk off the job at 10 am at Tweed Hospital today, the first of three days of industrial stoppages stretching from the Queensland border to the mid north coast.
The HSU stoppages will continue at Lismore tomorrow at Midday, and Coffs Harbour on Thursday at 2pm.
Health care workers want to see real progress towards giving them the full benefit of salary packaging. They also want the wages cap lifted as well as a real commitment to reviewing their industrial awards, so they are properly paid for their contribution to the State’s health system.
HSU NSW Secretary, Gerard Hayes, said the wage recession facing health care workers had fostered a crisis in attracting and retaining the workforce.
“There are more than 12,000 vacancies in NSW Health, and there is no time to waste in lifting wages and conditions so that we attract and retain the health workers our State needs,” Hayes said.
“Hard working therapists, wards people, security and catering staff are living through a wages recession. Their real incomes are being smashed as the cost of living melts their pay.
“It’s no coincidence we have launched this action in the Tweed. Our hospital members here only need to jump across the border to Queensland and they can enjoy superior wages and better conditions.
“NSW Labor was elected with significant expectations. They need to get moving on fulfilling them.”
Gerard Hayes 0417 275 821
Mick Kearns (Tweed) 0448 058 949
