What: Queensland health professionals protesting pay cuts, deliver a petition signed by almost 8000 signatories to be tabled by Leader of the Opposition Steven Miles during question time at Parliament.
Where: Outside Parliament House, Gardens Point side, Brisbane
When: 11.30am dependent on question time, Tuesday 9 December. United Workers Union members will be in the gallery during question time at 10am, and be available for media when question time concludes – scheduled for 11.30am.
Who: United Workers Union Queensland Health and Ambulance Coordinator Fiona Scalon, Radiation Therapists Alisha Wintour and Heath Foley, Nuclear Medicine Scientists Bradley Hector and Annah Skillen.
Queensland health professionals are taking their fight for fair pay to parliament as they ask the Crisafulli Government to address a proposed EBA that will leave some with a 25% pay cut.
Medical imaging staff, including radiographers, radiation therapists, nuclear medicine scientists, as well as pharmacists, oral health professionals, and clinical assistants, are demanding the department address concerns around staffing, pay and conditions which will impact patient care.
Leader of the Opposition Steven Miles will present an open letter to Minister for Health Tim Nicholls, on behalf of almost 8000 Queenslanders asking for the government to give health workers a fair deal.
United Workers Union members have been meeting with the Government for more than six months, including asking the Health Minister Tim Nicholls to intervene directly, to try and negotiate a deal which values and respects their skill, dedication and experience.
“Queensland Health is trying to wind back pay and conditions and strip away existing entitlements, leaving some of our members facing $30,000 cuts in take home pay,” said Fiona Scalon, Queensland Health and Ambulance Coordinator at UWU.
“If these pay cuts go ahead, health professionals will be forced to leave the public sector and seek work elsewhere, leaving vulnerable Queenslanders without critical care.”
Queensland Health applied to the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission for conciliation on 27 October, following months of negotiations led by the Union.
ENDS
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