What: Radiation therapists and nuclear medicine scientists will stop work as part of ongoing industrial action protesting proposed EBA pay cuts of up to $30,000
Who: United Workers Union Queensland Health and Ambulance Coordinator Fiona Scalon, Nuclear Medicine Scientist Bradley Hector, radiation therapists at multiple sites.
When: 12-2pm. Wednesday 3 December – with day-long stop works taking place across the south-east Queensland. Spokespeople will be available at the Princess Alexandra Hospital at noon and the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital at 1pm.
Where: 300+ workers will be stopping work state-wide. Up to 50 nuclear medicine scientists will be protesting at the Botanic Gardens near Parliament House, while radiation therapists will rally in groups of up to 70 at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Mater Hospital and the Princess Alexandra Hospital.
More than 330 health workers will walk off the job today at hospitals around Queensland to protest the Government’s proposed pay cuts – cuts that could force skilled professionals to leave the sector, leaving patients with longer wait times and treatment delays.
Radiation therapists and nuclear medicine scientists – experts who deliver targeted cancer treatment and pain-relief during palliative care – are protesting an EBA agreement that would see some lose up to $30,000 in take home pay.
“Health professionals do not take action like this lightly, and are dedicated to patient care” United Workers Union Queensland Health and Ambulance Coordinator Fiona Scalon said.
“These stop works demonstrate just how devastating these proposed cuts to allowances are. To have your pay so brutally reduced – for some it’s 25% of their pay – shows how little Queensland Health values their expertise.
“Radiation therapists and nuclear medicine scientists have told us they will have to seek work elsewhere if these cuts go ahead, potentially forcing sick Queenslanders to seek treatment via private providers.”
The planned actions will not put patients at risk, with mitigations in place to ensure no sick patient misses out on treatment.
Queensland Health applied to the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission for conciliation on 27 October, following months of stalled negotiations led by the Union.
ENDS
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