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Royal Perth strike action

Royal Perth strike action

All elective surgery has been cancelled at Royal Perth Hospital today in the second full day of strike action by health workers.

Other services, including some non-urgent cardiology and radiology, will also be affected, as hundreds of workers walk off the job from 6am over their pay dispute with the State Government.

Health Services Union members want more than the 2.75 per cent pay rise being offered by the Government this year, claiming it should match the increases of about 4 per cent awarded to other health staff such as doctors and nurses.

Neither side appears close to caving in, raising the prospect of a long campaign of industrial action, including stoppages at Fremantle, Armadale and Bentley hospitals next week.

A RPH spokeswoman said the hospital would try to minimise the impact on patients today but it had cancelled some outpatient services operated by allied health teams such as physiotherapy.

Delays in the supply of medications could also affect patient discharge times.

HSUWA secretary Dan Hill said members were disappointed with their treatment by the Government, an impasse which had forced them to strike for the first time in 13 years.

He said unless the Government put forward a better offer, there would be further stoppages.