Arabic version: عمال الصحة المساعدة يبدأون إضرابًا لمدة 24 ساعة بسبب نزاع على الأجور
Allied health workers at Victorian public hospitals have walked off the job for 24 hours over a pay dispute with the government. The strike commenced at midnight on Tuesday and involves various professionals, including radiographers, sonographers, physiotherapists, podiatrists, speech pathologists, and social workers.
According to ABC News, the union representing these workers demands a 36.18 percent pay increase over three years, citing “insulting and disrespectful” wage offers from the government as a primary reason for the industrial action.
More than 13,000 allied health professionals will be covered by a new Public Sector Enterprise Agreement being negotiated, which marks the first time these workers have taken such action for a full day. The Victorian Allied Health Professionals Association (VAHPA) has been negotiating but claims that the government’s offers have not met their expectations.
VAHPA executive officer Andrew Hewat highlighted that allied health workers are often overlooked and deserve better wages and working conditions. He expressed frustration with the government’s recent proposals, stating they fall significantly short of what is needed to retain talent and address career classification issues.
During the strike, urgent care staff will remain on duty to ensure patient care continues. The union plans to march to state parliament later today to further advocate for their demands, while the Victorian government maintains that negotiations are ongoing in good faith.
