Cleaners, orderlies, sterilisers and security guards at Lyell McEwin Hospital strike over parking

A group of essential health workers from a major Adelaide Hospital will walk off the job today in a protest over the axing of free parking and public transport.

Essential health workers at a major Adelaide hospital will walk off the job today to protest the removal of free hospital parking and public transport.

A group of angry workers from the Lyell McEwin Hospital will hold a stop work meeting at 1.30pm for one hour to underline the importance of access to free parking and public transport.

It comes as garbage truck drivers also strike across Adelaide on Friday to lobby for better pay and conditions from their employer Cleanaway.

The union met with health minister Chris Picton to raise concerns about removing the provisions, but the Government remained steadfast in reinstating the impost on hospital workers.

“This $1200-a-year carparking charge is a significant financial burden for a hospital cleaner who earns $27 an hour – and their stories are heartbreaking,” public sector co-ordinator Paul Blackmore said.

“United Workers Union cleaners, orderlies, security guards, catering attendants and sterilising technicians – the people who keep hospitals running – are working double shifts, overtime and constantly understaffed.”

Lyell McEwin Hospital essential workers are going on strike. Picture: Tait Schmaal.

He said the government campaigned for free access while in opposition.

“The then Opposition Health spokesman, now the Health Minister, wrote on his Facebook page: ‘ALL of our healthcare heroes deserve free parking when they go to work.’ Mr Blackmore said.

“The headline news here is that nothing has changed, in fact things are much, much worse.”

He said free parking was introduced when the Covid-19 pandemic was having less impact on hospitals than it is now.

“Given health workers were offered free parking and free public transport to keep the health system running smoothly in a time of crisis, that reason is even more valid today as we approach 5000 cases daily,” he said.

Health minister Chris Picton said the health department will meet with the union this afternoon.

“The Premier has already made clear that the government is willing to negotiate regarding carparking as part of enterprise bargaining arrangements,” Mr Picton said.

“Hospital car park fees go back into providing health services.”

Mr Picton said he had been advised the protest will not have a significant impact on the hospital’s services.