Hundreds of Royal Hobart Hospital workers walked off the job today in an escalating pay dispute with the state government.
Allied health professionals, cleaners, food service staff and administrators at the hospital stopped work for one hour, with union leaders threatening extended strikes of up to 24 hours.
The Health and Community Services Union (HACSU) accused the government of reneging on a 4% pay rise offer made two weeks ago, after members had lifted previous industrial action in good faith.
“This just shows the contempt that they show the hard working dedicated health workers,” union secretary Robbie Moore said out on the street during the stop work meeting.
Moore said Treasurer Eric Abetz’s recent comments that police work harder than other public servants, including health workers, had inflamed tensions.
“That just shows how out of touch this treasurer is,” Moore said.
“He should come down here, face the workers.”
Workers are now considering four-hour, eight-hour and 24-hour strikes in coming weeks if negotiations on Thursday don’t meet their needs.
“We had meetings [last] Thursday with government negotiators. Government ministers, including the premier and the treasurer, have refused to turn up,” Moore said.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff in parliament this week said claims that the government and the head of the state service have “reneged on commitments” were “incorrect”.
“It is disappointing that discussions have been portrayed in that way,” he said.
“We want to continue good faith negotiations with public service representatives through their various unions.”
Pharmacy department worker Lauren Vanier said morale was at an all-time low.
“We are really angry. We are tired. We are sick of being given the runaround,” she said.
“Our health service really runs on the goodwill of the staff and our goodwill has run out.”
She said all they want is a sustainable health service for the people of Tasmania.
“We’re losing staff to the mainland because our pay and conditions just can’t compete with the private sector and what’s on offer elsewhere in the country,” she said.
Negotiations are scheduled to continue this afternoon.
