The Health Services Union is calling on governments and employers to deliver immediate, targeted relief for health, aged care and disability workers during Australia's worsening fuel crisis.
HSU National Secretary Lloyd Williams said the union's members were bearing a disproportionate share of the crisis, with no option to work from home.
"These workers kept this country going through a pandemic, and they are doing it again now. They will turn up regardless. That’s the nature of the work," Mr Williams said.
"But turning up is getting harder and more expensive by the day, and the people who depend on them can’t afford for that to become a reason workers don't show up at all.”
The HSU is calling for four immediate measures:
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Free parking at hospitals, aged care facilities and disability services for workers who must drive to work. Parking costs compound the burden on workers who have no alternative to driving
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Bring forward motor vehicle allowance increases already built into enterprise agreements. Workers should not have to wait for scheduled rises when the financial pressure is being felt right now
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Rostering flexibility from employers for staff who need to use public transport. Workers who can no longer afford to drive must be given schedules that make public transport a viable option, with start and finish times that align with available services
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Urgent action to address the risk of workforce shortages driven by fuel costs. Casual workers are reconsidering shifts due to high petrol costs.
"We need governments and employers to recognise that a generic response to this crisis is not enough for workers in this sector," Mr Williams said.
"The federal government's decision to halve the fuel excise was a welcome step, now it's time for employers to act to relieve pressure on an essential workforce.
"When you've got casual workers weighing up whether it's worth taking a shift, there's a serious problem that could have terrible ramifications for some of the most vulnerable people in society.”
The HSU represents more than 110,000 workers across health, aged care, disability and community services.
Contact: Matt Coughlan 0400 561 480 / [email protected]
