 Home Media Resources NSW Hospital Workers Stop Work October 3 2003
NSW Hospital Workers Stop Work October 3 2003
The General Secretary of the Health Services Union, Mr Michael Williamson, today said that there will be 4-hour stop work meetings of HSU public hospital members around the state next Tuesday 7 October in protest against government privatisation plans.
The stop work meetings are part of a dispute with the NSW Health Department over plans to privatise certain non-clinical services in the Hunter Area Health Service.
HSU General Secretary Michael Williamson says, "Clearly, our members have taken the view that when members of one Area Health Service are threatened with the prospect of job losses and reductions in service due to privatisation, then we are all threatened."
"The majority of hospital sub-branches across the State have voted to participate in a four hour stoppage on Tuesday in solidarity with our members in the Hunter, and to send a clear message to the Carr Government that we will not tolerate the privatisation of public hospital jobs."
HSU members from all classifications, including support and ancillary staff, administration staff, allied health and professional staff will all be participating in this action.
The union will be careful to ensure that a skeleton staff remains on duty at each site for the sake of emergencies.
The union's privatisation concerns have been heightened by the release of the recent IPART report into the NSW public health system, which seems to suggest an ideological shift for the Government towards contracting out.
"This is the first public hospital-wide stoppage in over 9 years, which I think demonstrates that our members don't take this sort of action lightly," Mr Williamson said.
"The depth of support for the stoppage certainly demonstrates that our members will strenuously defend public hospital services and fight privatisation."
"Our members are drawing a line in the sand on Tuesday. We will be saying to the Government loud and clear that we will not accept privatisation or contracting out of public hospital services.
"If the Government is not prepared to alter their position on this, then clearly, they will have a fight on their hands." Mr Williamson concluded.
Contact Details
Health Services Union
Ph: 03 93413328
Fax: 03 93413329
hsu@hsu.net.au
http://www.hsu.net.au
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