Health Services Union WA members step up industrial action and strikes in bid for better pay, conditions

Public health workers will be striking for more than a week as their pay dispute with the State Government steps up. Anaesthetic technicians and medical imaging technologists will be striking from Friday in a “last resort” option to urge the State Government to invest in the public health workforce. The industrial action comes after the Health Services Union rejected the Government’s second pay offer of 12 per cent over three years. The union wants 12 per cent over two years, but says the lack of career pathways is also a major sticking point. Anaesthetic technicians at Rockingham and Armadale hospitals will have a four-hour strike from 7.30am on Friday. The same stoppages will occur every morning next week at a different hospital site until September 30. Medical imaging technologists will also engage in one-hour strikes at the same hospital sites. Pharmacists from 23 hospitals will be taking stop work actions until September 27, which will include not preparing medication lists on hospital wards for patient discharge and not collecting payments for prescriptions. HSUWA secretary Naomi McCrae said the strikes were a last resort decision in a bid for better pay and conditions for public health workers. “Friday’s strike at Rockingham and Armadale Hospitals is a carefully considered option of last resort for HSUWA anaesthetic technicians and medical imaging technologists after Health have continually failed to listen to members or engage in meaningful reform to the career pathway claims,” she said. “HSUWA anaesthetic technicians, medical imaging technologists and hospital pharmacists have dedicated their lives to delivering care to WA public health patients. “Without an investment now by the State Government, the serious strife our public health workforce has found itself in after years of government inaction and underinvestment will only intensify.”