Health Services Union WA warns of more industrial action after knocking back second pay offer

Public health workers are set to take further industrial action after the union rejected the latest pay and conditions offer from the State Government. A 12 per cent pay rise over three years was unanimously rejected by the HSUWA management committee on Thursday, which represents allied health professionals and technicians, ward clerks and workers in disability and aged care. The union wants a 12 per cent pay rise over two years — 7 per cent in the first year and 5 in the second — and submitted the pay demand in November ahead of its contract expiring at the end of June. The demand mirrors that of other Public Sector Alliance unions — including UWU and the State School Teacher’s Union. HSUWA secretary Naomi McCrae said the Department of Health’s second offer also failed to respond to eight out of the 20 claims requested by union members including career pathway reforms for allied health professionals and anaesthetic technicians. HSUWA has now flagged further industrial action, which is expected to be taken in the coming weeks. “Our members are not interested in band-aid solutions – they are fighting for a pay increase that will keep ahead of inflation and the priority workforce reforms needed to support and retain skilled public health workers,” Ms McCrae said. “While the Department of Health continues its focus on negotiating tactics and strategically prolonging the offer process, HSUWA members are continuing to fight, in good faith, for fair pay and priority workforce reforms to ultimately deliver a sustainable public health system for Western Australians. “We will continue to fight until the State Government is ready to engage with our claim in a meaningful and respectful way. It is time the State Government makes public health workers a priority.” The HSUWA previously knocked back the Department of Health’s first offer for the new union agreement, which included a 4.75 per cent pay increase in the first year and 3.5 per cent in the second year. The second offer comes after around 500 public sector workers, including HSUWA members, flooded Perth Cultural Centre in August to demand better pay and conditions.