The Health Services Union SA/NT (HSU), representing Allied Health Professionals and Medical Scientists, has been negotiating a new Enterprise Agreement with the Finocchiaro Government for more than six months.
After receiving an abysmal pay offer, the NT Government is forcing the EA to a vote against the advice of unions — members are campaigning to vote NO against this deal. The vote closes this Wednesday, 24 September.
Allied Health covers a wide range of professions, including physiotherapists, radiographers, social workers, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, dietitians, psychologists, pathology scientists, and sonographers.
Allied Health work across NT Health in hospital settings, directly in the community, as part of mental health services, and across a range of other administrative and management roles.
Members are rallying out the front of both Royal Darwin Hospital and Alice Springs Hospital from 12:30pm for roughly an hour. The rally will mostly be over workers’ lunch break, but the HSU has notified of stop work action to ensure as many members can attend as possible. The HSU has ensured adequate skeleton staffing will remain on site so that all urgent services continue.
Allied Health is taking this action because it is fed up with a government that isn’t listening to its concerns. Allied Health was ignored in bargaining and is being forced into a situation in which it has to campaign against a proposed EA that would leave it and the rest of the public sector lagging behind the rest of Australia.
If voted in, the proposed EA would result in Territory Allied Health staying as the lowest in the country – it was once one of the highest. Without decent wages and conditions, we simply won’t be able to attract the workforce required to operate essential services. Allied Health are focused on reducing hospital stays and the rate of hospitalisation – without a strong Allied Health workforce the system will only get worse.
The HSU has put forward claims which include an 18.5% pay increase over 4 years, improved recognition in the agreement with defined classification structures, a professional development allowance that actually covers the costs of professional development, stronger workload protections, and improved incentives for regional and remote workers.
Quotes attributable to HSU SA/NT Branch Secretary, Billy Elrick:
“Allied Health are walking off the job to stand up for the essential services they provide to all Territorians.”
“The HSU has organised the rallies with patient safety in mind, we have utilised lunch breaks and skeleton crews will remain where required.”
“The Finocchiaro Government needs to get serious about what it will do to ensure we can attract and retain an Allied Health workforce that Territorians rely on every day.”
“The HSU is calling on all public sector workers who are covered by this agreement to vote no, it’s a bad deal for everyone.”
*** RALLY DETAILS ***
Date: Tuesday, 23 September
Time: 12:30 PM – approximately 1:30 PM
Locations:
Royal Darwin Hospital – Main Entrance
Alice Springs Hospital – Front Lawn
HSU NT Branch Secretary Billy Elrick and a number of Allied Health members will be available to speak to media at both rally locations. Interviews can be arranged on-site or by contacting Billy Elrick in advance.
Contact details:
HSU SA/NT Branch Secretary Billy Elrick is available for comment. Contact 0427 267 996 – [email protected]
