A powerful NSW healthcare union has shot down the government’s proposed 4 per cent wage bump, while threatening “escalating industrial action” if their demands for a 6 per cent pay increase aren’t met.
On Tuesday, members at the Health Services Union’s (HSU) annual conference issued the government with a tight three-day deadline to respond by Friday July 7, with delegates promising to begin industrial action from Monday, July 10.
Delegates representing the HSU’s 74,000 members called on the government to provide their exact position as to whether they will accept the percentage increase, or agree to a flat $3500 annual salary boost for members.
They also called on the government to supply a timeline for proposed salary packaging reform and a commitment to fund award reform so wages “reflect the changing nature of work”.
Speaking to members after the votes, HSU NSW Secretary Gerard Hayes issued a startling threat to the current government.
“This government needs to get their s**t together pretty darn quickly because if they don’t, we’re coming for them and the next election is not too far away,” he said in a speech to members.
“This is a starting point, this is not the end game. I have shown you how the words of some mean nothing but the force of this union means a lot.
“We don’t have asks of politicians, we have requirements.”
Health Minister Ryan Park said the government “was close” to coming to an agreement and committed to continue to engaging with unions.
However, he said the Treasurer, Daniel Mookhey had been “very clear” with the wage “offer on the table”.
“I think we are moving in the right direction. There is still more work to do over the course of the coming days but I am confident we can get to (a resolution),” he said.
“What I’m trying to do is focus on the men and women who deliver health care in NSW and try and give them the best possible outcome.”
If industrial action was to occur, he said “very detailed plans” were in place, and he said conversations with NSW Health had already taken place.
If the HSU was to proceed with strike action or work stoppages, the decision would be left to members in their local health district.
The union flagged this could involve linen delivery bans and finance processing bans, or stop work orders and strikes.
On Monday, Mr Mookhey faced a frosty reception from HSU delegates as he delivered a speech at the annual conference.
Members clashed with the proposed 4.5 per cent pay increase, which includes a 0.5 per cent bump in superannuation, and said the government’s salary packaging reform didn’t go far enough.
Previously, Premier Chris Minns had promised that if NSW Labor was elected, it would begin working with the HSU to ensure workers under the Health Service Union Awards would receive 100 per cent of benefits made through salary packaging.
Currently members only keep 50 per cent of their benefits, with Mr Mookhey promising reform to increase that figure to 6o to 70 per cent from July.
One emotional member slammed the Treasurer for “not understanding” the struggles of working class people, and questioned whether Mr Mookhey received a pay rise when going from opposition to government.
“When your families go to hospital, who looks after them? We do. Not the nurses, we do. We make sure everything is done,” said Edalina Hondros, a clinical support officer working in Fairfield.
Other members of the crowd roasted the Treasurer during his speech, calling him to “pay us more”.