Hundreds of mental health workers to stop work to wrangle in better pay and conditions
Exasperated mental health workers are taking a stand on Wednesday, western style, as part of their stop work action in response to a woeful bargaining agreement from the state government.
Not even Calamity Jane or John Wayne could stop this stampede of workers, wearing their finest hats and boots as they try to wrangle a better deal for the incredibly important work they do.
Health and Community Services Union members, who are at breaking point, are experiencing unsafe workplaces, a lack of pay parity for similar roles and dangerous staff to patient ratios and staffing profiles in the public health sector in both wards and within the community.
“Enough is enough. People are facing increasingly dangerous situations at work because there are not enough staff, and the community isn’t getting the care it deserves as a result,” Branch Secretary Paul Healey said today.
“We are experiencing a mental health crisis in Australia, and it is acute in Victoria with a suicide rate that continues to be over double that of the road toll. Our workers are at the coal face of it. The least we can do is ensure that there is a safe level of staffing in the public system, and to make sure they are paid appropriately,” Assistant Branch Secretary Rebecca Sprekos said.
What: Hundreds of mental health workers, supported by other unions, will march to Victoria’s Parliament to demand better pay and conditions. They will be dressed in cowboy hats and boots. There will also be line dancers, and special guest performers taking part. Victorian MPs are invited to walk out of parliament and support the striking workforce.
Where: Beginning at the Trades Hall and ending at Victorian Parliament
When: April 2nd, at 12PM (march kick off)
Who: HACSU members, plus other unions providing support
Media contact: Kathleen Ferguson - 0421 522 080