Victorian Health Workers Union (HWU) members assembled for a snap action at Victorian Trades Hall Council on Tuesday to escalate their calls for fair wages and urgent action to address unsustainable workloads and chronic staff shortages.
The HWU represents a diverse range of frontline staff in Victoria's health and community services, including those in public/private hospitals, aged care, disability services, pathology, community health, and dental, covering roles from aged carers, cleaners, and allied health to clerical, kitchen, and security staff.
Staffing shortages and high workloads are serious hazards that can lead to both physical and psychological harm. The new Victorian Compliance Code: Psychological health recognises them as high job demand hazards that employers must proactively manage to ensure a safe workplace.
Health care workers across the state commenced action last week, ceasing the provision of support for elective surgery procedures. The action has also seen the closure of one in every four hospital beds, stopped cleaning of non-clinical areas including offices, staff rooms and cafeterias, and suspended the training and onboarding of new staff. These actions are alongside existing bans on revenue-raising activity.
The escalation to strike action was flagged to Government in December, with Health Workers Union’s Lead Organiser, Jake McGuinness emphasising that the bans don’t apply to emergency care, children and pregnant mothers. The HWU is actively working with health services, including those in bushfire-affected areas, to ensure critical care continues to be delivered, with exemptions being provided where necessary to protect patient and public safety.
“These bans are targeted and carefully designed to protect emergency and critical services, but they will cause widespread disruption”, Mr McGuinness said.
Mr McGuinness said that taking strike action is the last thing workers want to be doing — especially during the summer bushfire period – and that “Healthcare workers want to be doing their job caring for Victorians”.
The protected action will run from 7am on Wednesday 14th January, and continue until midnight on 1st February.
Read more: Healthcare workers escalate industrial action | HWU