Paramedics and other health workers will walk off the job at some NSW hospitals as they escalate a push for a pay rise.
Health Services Union wardspeople, security, cleaning, allied health, administration staff, radiographers and paramedics will walk off the job on Wednesday at Westmead Hospital and Blacktown Hospital at midday to attend stop work meetings.
Staff at Nepean Hospital will stop work from 2pm while those at John Hunter Hospital and Morrisett Hospital will walk off the jobs from 10am, while workers at other hospitals will impose work bans.
The union wants a 6.5 per cent wage increase and an end to the government’s three per cent public sector wages cap – a key promise of Labor’s election campaign.
Union boss Gerard Hayes says he is disappointed with the lack of action on wages from the two-month old Labor government, amid the rising cost of living, saying there has been “a lot of talk and not a lot of action”.
The government on Tuesday introduced legislation to freeze the salaries of MPs and executives for two years to enable it to redirect millions of dollars in savings to nurses, paramedics, teachers and other frontline workers.
When asked to clarify whether all the savings would be directed to frontline workers, Premier Chris Minns said he would have more to say in the coming days.
“I would fully anticipate that the savings made will go to boosting and ensuring and retaining essential services workers in the state,” he said.
The HSU says real incomes have shrunk as inflation runs at seven per cent, rents have surged between 10 and 25 per cent, while mortgage interest rates have almost tripled.
Stagnant wages were contributing to an attraction and retention crisis in the health sector with 12,000 vacancies in NSW Health.
“Workers are fleeing to Queensland, ACT and Victoria because the pay is significantly better and housing is cheaper,” the union said in a statement.
Australian Associated Press