United Voice

Health support workers like Patient Care Assistants, orderlies, hospital cleaners, caterers and sterilisation staff are due to negotiate a new three year wages deal with the government because their current agreement comes to an end on 31 July.
In its first correspondence with the LHMU on the issue, the government has reduced its overall offer to these essential workers by 0.25%, claiming that its CPI projections for the next three years have actually lowered.
Under the government’s previous projections, the hospital support staff should be offered what is an already pathetic 2.5%, 3% and 3%. But it is actually offering them 2.5%, 2.75% and 3%.

'Outrageous offer'
Dave Kelly, secretary of the LHMU, said: “This is an outrageous offer from the government especially after Colin Barnett revealed that he would be putting up power bills by a further 17.5% in July.
“These low paid but vital workers have already been struggling to pay household bills which have risen by $1000 in the last year. How does the premier expect them to cope with further rises on this measly offer? It will only send them backwards financially.
“The government has claimed in its Mid Year Review projections that the rate of inflation in the state is dropping but there is very little evidence this is happening. The cost of living in the state has sky-rocketed and Troy Buswell has gladly told everyone that the state’s royalty earnings are set to boom. So why not share the wealth with workers who make our hospitals happen?
“The premier has admitted that his wages offer is low, pleading state-wide poverty for the paltry offer. But he managed to afford a 20% rise for teachers and huge bonuses of up to $90,000 for top government workers. How can this be fair?”

'Staff shortages'
Brodie Clayton, a support worker at Royal Perth Hospital, said he was furious about the offer.
“How do they expect us to make ends meet on those wage rises? We deserve much more respect for the essential work we do in hospitals,” he said.
“We’ve also had to cope with interest rate rises while Troy Buswell and Kim Hames still take their full country allowance of $35,000 each.
“In the last boom, there were severe staff shortages in hospitals, and the same thing is going to happen again if the government doesn’t give us a decent wage offer. What’s the point of struggling when unskilled workers can get $150,000 at the Gorgon Gas project?
“Clearly Colin Barnett and Troy Buswell aren’t in touch with the difficulties faced by low paid workers which constitute a sizeable portion of the voting public.
“Health support workers will fight the government all the way on this.”