Queensland allied health workers go on strike over pay issues

By Dr. Ananya Mandal, MDNov 30 2010

Nearly 10,000 allied health professionals of Queensland health have gone on strike for 24 hours from midnight (AEST) over a pay dispute with the government. The health workers include occupational therapists, social workers, radiographers, pharmacists, physiotherapists, speech therapists, theatre technicians and dental workers. They feel that the government’s proposed 7.5 per cent pay increase over three years is not enough.

Queensland Public Sector Union general secretary Alex Scott warned that the brunt of the strike would be felt from about 9am (AEST) onwards. He said, “The full impact of the strike won't be until later today… In the major hospitals we will see a reduction of staffing levels in emergency departments, such as pathology, radiography and pharmacy, from several hundred down to a handful… There are a range of elective surgery and procedures that will have to be cancelled.” He said emergency services will not be disrupted and, “Elective surgeries that are time-specific will also go through.”

Queensland Treasurer Andrew Fraser in his statement said that health workers recently received a pay raise and the present offer was fair. He said, “We need to remember here that times are still tough and there are plenty of people still doing it tough, and the government's got a responsibility to make sure we maintain fiscal discipline and observe our wages policy.”

He added, “In the end, if patient safety is compromised then the Government has the option to go to the industrial commission to call off the action…I respect their rights to undertake industrial action but they should respect the fact also that we have a tight budget circumstance and that we put a generous pay offer on the table and that they’ve received generous pay offers in the past… We want to give them a pay rise but need to be responsible about it.”

Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union state president Nev Swan said health professionals were being penalized for the mistakes of Queensland Health. He said, “With the recent announcement of a $210 million price tag to fix the beleaguered payroll system, my members can’t help feeling they’re being asked to make financial sacrifices to amend for the mistakes of others…Unless Queensland Health prioritizes its staff more highly - and pays them what they’re worth - we can expect to see even more of our valuable health professionals leaving to work in the private sector or interstate.”