| What | Rally at Mali’s of more than 200 Health Support Workers representing all hospitals in both major metro hospital networks, Disability Support Officers, Early educators and aged care workers. |
| Where | SA Premier Peter Malinauskas’s Electorate Office – 488 Port Rd, Welland, SA, 5007 |
| When | Tuesday, September 16:
1.45pm to 2.15pm: rally |
| Who | Health Support Workers, SA State Secretary and National Public Sector Director Demi Pnevmatikos. |
Health support workers and Disability Support Officers have rejected the Malinauskas Government’s latest offer in their ongoing pay dispute, with more than 200 workers taking their case for a fair pay rise to the Premier’s doorstep.
The action comes after a revised offer from the Government fails to address workers’ claims for urgent cost-of-living relief, fails to address the pay gap with workers doing the same job in other states and fails to properly recognise members sacrifice for working on a Sunday.
The action brings together workers from all major hospitals in both metro hospital networks, aged care workers, early childhood education workers and Disability Support Officers from the Department of Human Services.
“Our members appreciate the Premier personally intervening in this issue and bringing forward a revised pay offer,” SA State Secretary and National Public Sector Director Demi Pnevmatikos said today.
“But our members have been unable to accept the offer because it leaves them no better off in the first year than the very first offer they received all those months ago.
“While bean counters may have their own reasons to move the bulk of the pay rise into the second year, it shows no understanding of what life is like for a Patient Services Assistant living on $60,000 a year in Adelaide.
“Our members are the lowest paid workers in the public sector and the lowest paid workers doing these jobs in the country.
“Pay for these workers needs to be fixed sooner rather than later.
“You can’t expect to attract and retain the workers you need to do the vital jobs in disability support, patient care and keeping the health, disability support and aged care systems running when you pay workers so poorly.
“And the Premier can’t fix ramping and other issues without fixing the pay gap that’s driving workers out of hospitals, aged care, and early education.”
United Workers Union members in hospitals and support roles include Disability Support Officers, Patient Services Assistants, Operating Theatre Technicians, Sterilisation Technicians, Aged Care Workers, Cleaners, Laundry and Catering workers.
They clean hospitals, sterilise surgical equipment, feed patients and residents, care for them, transport them and support the most vulnerable people living with disabilities and in aged care.