Union warns of hospital strike
The Health Services Union will consider industrial action that would disrupt hospitals as part of a campaign for a 14 per cent pay rise over three years - almost double the amount due under the State Government's wages policy.
HSU secretary Dan Hill said the union refused to accept the Government's policy that capped public sector pay rises at the inflation rate.
Under the wages policy, 20,000 hospital workers covered by the deal, including physiotherapists, pharmacists and clerical staff, are set to get only 7.5 per cent more over three years.
Mr Hill warned the union's 5500 hospital-based members would consider stoppages and other industrial action to push their pay demands.
He said nurses had set a precedent after winning a 14 per cent increase over three years, and doctors were on track for an extra 11 to 12 per cent.
Mr Hill said it was not fair their HSU hospital colleagues should get smaller increases, especially because they were subject to the same cost pressures.
Before the public sector wage reforms were introduced two months ago, above-inflation pay rises were allowed if they were linked to productivity gains.
The HSU, which yesterday began the official negotiation period for the upcoming agreement, will meet Government representatives next week to put the union's demands on the table.
The current agreement expires in June.
"There is no requirement for us to accept the Government's wages policy," Mr Hill said.
"That is simply their bargaining position and we have ours … and it could include approved industrial action."
It is understood doctors relied on the pay precedent set by nurses during their negotiations for 11 to 12 per cent more money, which is likely to be approved soon.
HSU members in the private sector had negotiated annual pay rises of 3.75 per cent.
Acting Commerce Minister John Day would not comment on union claims they were entitled to more money.
"The pay negotiations with doctors and nurses were among the last to be completed under the old Government wages policy," Mr Day said.
"Agreements that expire after 1 November 2013 are subject to a new wages policy that caps wage increases at the projected consumer price index."
