Concerns turn to celebration at health workers strike

THIRD time was a charm for Geelong’s health workers on Wednesday when strike action became celebration.

Health Worker Union (HWU) members left Geelong in the early hours to join their colleagues in Footscray as part of state-wide action.

It was due to be the third time the union had walked off the job during this bargaining period.

Their concerns quickly turned to celebration when the union received a renewed offer from the Victorian government just hours before the strike action began.

Lead organiser Jake McGuinness said the mood at the Footscray Hospital opening was positive following a significant step forward.

“I think the government can celebrate a win for health infrastructure and for the health workforce,” McGuinness said.

“Back in December we laid out that when Frankston Hospital opened, we would strike and that when Footscray Hospital opened, we would strike. If you’ve got billions for buildings, you need to match that with serious investment in the work that will make the buildings into hospitals.”

The union and government had been negotiating for 15-months, with HWU members turning down a below-inflation wage offer by a 98 per cent majority in early February.

Wednesday’s offer, which promises a 12 per cent increase in wages over two years, came thanks to intervention from Premier Jacinta Allan.

The new proposal will be presented to HWU members to vote on before it can be lodged with Fair Work.

“This dispute isn’t over until we’ve signed on the dotted line,” McGuinness said. “But we’re closer to a deal now that we’ve been in over a year.”

HWU workers have been without an EBA deal since 30 June 2025.