By Mitchell Clarke
Frontline healthcare heroes at Casey Hospital are calling for an annual 4.5 percent pay rise, as they continue to work around the clock to respond to the Covid-19 crisis.
The Health Workers Union is currently negotiating the Victorian Public Hospital Agreement, which is set to expire on 1 October, and will set the pay and conditions for over 55,000 Victorian public hospital workers.
The State Government public sector wages policy caps annual wage increases at two percent, but Health Workers Union secretary Diana Asmar wants hardworking hospital employees to secure an 18 percent pay rise over four years.
She said it was a double standard for politicians to receive a pay increase in excess of two percent.
“The strong feedback I’ve received from workers at south east hospitals is that they will not accept a two percent pay rise,” Ms Asmar said.
“Local public hospital workers, whether it’s Casey Hospital or Dandenong Hospital, are the heroes on the frontline during this Covid pandemic.
“They resent being called ‘heroes’ by politicians when their pay doesn’t match their importance to the community.”
The Agreement covers nearly 90 percent of public hospital workers including cooks, chefs, patient service assistants, laundry workers, security officers, cleaners, ward clerks and receptionists.
“Without these workers, our public hospital system comes to a grinding halt,” Ms Asmar said.
“They have the respect of our community and we want to see them rewarded properly for the important work they do.”
According to the Health Workers Union, a cleaner in a public hospital often earns less than $24.
“They are doing God’s work,” Ms Asmar said.
“The community is relying on them to keep us safe and our hospitals free of Covid-19. They deserve a decent income but they are currently being offered peanuts by the Victorian Government.”
