United Voice News
Non-emergency operations and procedures may have to be cancelled as Queensland Health (QHealth) workers threaten to take strike action in the next month, according to their union.
The LHMU, which represents about 1500 QHealth workers employed across Queensland, says strike action may be unavoidable after the State Government failed to deliver on a promise to conduct an urgent classification re-evaluation.
“The Union asked QHealth to properly recognise its workers for their clinical abilities in 2007, after identifying a serious undervaluing of their skills,” LHMU Secretary Gary Bullock said.
“Those workers were promised a classification re-evaluation, which was meant to be completed by September 2008.
“That was more than 12 months ago and there’s still no sign of an outcome.”
“To say that Premier Anna Bligh and Minister for Health Paul Lucas have dropped the ball on this would be an understatement,” said QHealth radiographer Mike Trikillis.
“Deputy Director General Andrew Wilson recently guaranteed that the process would be completed by 30 September. Again, QHealth failed to meet its own undertakings.”
Mr Trikillis said health practitioners were furious and that there would likely be stop work action in the coming days.
“I am worried that we will start to see an exodus of health practitioners from QHealth into the private sector, or to other states which will only add to waiting times and further strain the public health service. Workers have just stopped trusting Queensland Health.” Mr Trikillis said.
“We’re concerned that on Friday, when this matter came to a head, Director General Mick Reid had taken a day off and was not available to intervene.”
“We’re also troubled that the Premier is off doing a P.R. cooking show when she should be dealing with one of the most significant healthcare issues facing Queensland in recent years.
“QHealth treats this workforce as second-class citizens and doesn’t consider them front-line. That is, until someone needs an X-Ray to identify life threatening internal injuries or a pharmacist to provide life-saving drugs.”
The LHMU represents Allied Health radiographers, pharmacists and radiation therapists and oral health workers.
