MEDIA ALERT
Crisis in the South West: Workers in hospitals and schools stop work to demand fair pay
WHEN: 1:15 pm today for interviews, Thursday 18 July.
WHERE: Bunbury Regional Hospital
WHAT: Hospital workers will stop work, and be joined by education assistants in Bunbury, to demand a fair pay rise from the WA Government. The stop work meeting will take place 1:30 pm – 2 pm.
United Workers Union members at Bunbury Regional Hospital and Bunbury schools stop work to demand the state government deliver a fair pay rise and a district allowance that meets the rising cost of living.
Quotes attributable to United Workers Union spokesperson Lisa Judge:
“Essential public sector workers in the South-West and Great Southern are skipping meals and medical appointments amidst the rising cost of living as the WA Government has not historically provided them the same support they give to other regional areas.
“Schools and hospitals don’t work without these workers. They play crucial roles in areas where access to healthcare and opportunities are already limited. They are doing it tough due to low wages, higher food and fuel costs and a crippling housing crisis.
“It used to be that the higher costs of regional living were off-set by lower rents. That’s just not the case anymore. The outcome is low-paid workers being pushed out of these towns.
“This is why Union members are standing together and taking action for a pay rise that meets the rising cost of living. It is time for the WA Government to step up and support these workers to keep essential services in Bunbury running.”
Quotes attributable to Kaye Duce, an Education Assistant in Bunbury:
“I’ve been at the school and in the EA role for over 20 years. It’s never been this hard to live on the wage. People are leaving because it’s too stressful and for better pay. I know an EA who left and now does fly in fly out as a cleaner for much less stress and much more money.
“The students we look after have complex health needs and behavioural issues, some students are aggressive and violent. They try to run off, some bite. I worry what will happen to them if people can’t afford to keep working in these roles.”
ENDS
Media Contact: 1300 898 633, [email protected]