‘Beyond a joke’: Heathcote Health workers strike as pay talks stall

HEALTHCARE workers at Heathcote Health went on strike on Tuesday as part of statewide industrial action in support of a pay claim by the Health Workers Union.

More than 10,000 healthcare workers across Victoria took part in the strike, leading to hospital bed closures and the cancellation of surgeries.

Workers, including cooks, cleaners, orderlies, theatre technicians and phlebotomists are calling for a six per cent wage increase and claim the government has stalled negotiations.

More than 80 healthcare services were involved, including all of Melbourne’s major hospitals.

“Today healthcare workers at Heathcote Health walked off the job,” Health Workers Union (HWU) delegate at Heathcote Health, Will Garnsey, said.

“We did not want to be doing this, however, the Allan government’s failure to make a fair pay offer is beyond a joke.

“We have been bargaining for 13 months and the government has still not made a liveable pay offer.

“During COVID we delivered vital services for the Heathcote community and now we are being let down by the Allan government.

“It’s time that Jacinta Allan and Mary-Anne Thomas [the minister for health] made a serious pay offer.

“They have billions of dollars for new hospitals, however, they offer nothing to the people who keep those hospitals running.”

HWU lead organiser Jake McGuinness said workers had been negotiating for more than a year and were still facing an effective pay cut due to inflation.

“Jacinta Allan’s failure to offer healthcare workers a fair, liveable wage deal has made this industrial action unavoidable,” he said.

“Healthcare workers don’t want to be on strike, but the government has left them little choice.

“Workers deserve a fair and liveable pay deal, not a salary cut.

“The chaos is unfortunately necessary for healthcare workers to secure a pay deal that keeps their heads above water.”