Hundreds of Geelong hospital employees are paid “peanuts”, according to the Health Workers Union (HWU), which is calling for an annual 4.5 per cent pay rise.
HWU secretary Diana Asmar called for an 18 per cent pay rise over four years for Barwon Health employees covered under the Victorian Public Hospital Agreement.
This includes cooks, chefs, patient services assistants, laundry workers, security officers, cleaners, ward clerks, receptionists, theatre, instrument and pharmacy technicians, and admin and maintenance workers.
“They are heroes on the frontline in the fight against COVID-19,” Ms Asmar said.
“A cleaner in a public hospital earns as little as $23.80. … The community is relying on them to keep us safe and our hospitals free of COVID-19.
“They deserve a decent income but they are currently being offered peanuts by the Victorian government.”
The current agreement, which sets the pay and conditions for more than 55,000 Victorian public hospital workers, is set to expire on October 1.
Since last October, state government’s public sector wages policy has capped annual pay increases at two per cent.
While an independent tribunal froze Victorian MP salaries this year, last year MPs and ministers received pay rises of a 3.5 and 11.8 per cent respectively.
“There’s a double standard,” Ms Asmar said.
Health Minister Jenny Mikakos echoed the union’s praise for workers but declined to comment on pay negotiations.
“Our healthcare workers are absolute heroes and we value their dedication,” she said.
“We won’t be conducting [Enterprise Bargaining Agreement] negotiations through the media.”
