As a protest against the Queensland government's pay offer, thousands of health workers plan to stop work in Brisbane on Thursday. This would include health practitioners, psychologists, physiotherapists, radiographers and scientists. The rally would take place outside Parliament House in Brisbane at noon. The outrage followed the state government's 2.5 per cent a year pay rise offer over three years.
Queensland Public Sector Union (QPSU) general secretary Alex Scott said, “Health practitioners are saying enough is enough, all we've been reasonably requesting is a fair wage rise instead of a real pay cut and we're standing up and fighting for it…The reality is that the employer's approach to bargaining is solely about the bottom line.” Another QPSU spokesman Bob Elphinstone confirmed that the rallies will be held at the Bundaberg and Maryborough hospitals. Queensland Health workers across the Sunshine and Cooloola coasts region are also planning strike action today.
“They will be seeking to publicly rally to support their claim that not enough staff can be recruited at the current pay levels… Quite clearly members in regions deserve the same level of care that our colleagues in Brisbane get… It's quite important that the Government recognizes that regional areas are more difficult to recruit to and that we get the financial support that we need to support the Wide Bay community,” said Mr. Elphinstone. He added that the region was already facing problems with attracting and retaining health professionals and Queensland Health's proposal will not help.
Queensland Health however says the workers are some of the highest paid in Australia.