Union action looms as scared hospital staff hit with pay freeze

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says she has no concerns about Queensland frontline services workers not receiving promised pay rises as they fight on the front line of the COVID-19 pandemic.

PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk says she isn’t concerned that frontline hospital workers – like those at the coal face fighting coronavirus – won’t be getting their pay rises.

Staff at Brisbane southside hospitals are considering taking action after their promised pay rises for last year were shelved last week.

But the Premier said every dollar had to count in the fight against the pandemic.

“No I don’t (have any concerns), because I made it very clear that they are frozen,” she said.

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“But let me also make it very clear, that the state is going to have to find a lot of money to pay for workers that will be working double shifts into the future so every single dollar counts here.

“This is going to run for months, you only have to look at what’s happening overseas so I need to make sure that every single dollar counts.”

Pressed further on whether nurses would be exempt from the pay rise freeze, which was suddenly announced on breakfast TV last week, the Premier said the freeze began last Thursday.

After praising front line services, Ms Palaszczuk froze a promised 2.5 per cent pay rise on Thursday saying it was the sensible thing to do.

“In this climate, at the moment, everything must be put on hold,” she said.

“It’s absolutely sensible and I’m quite sure other people are doing the same thing.”

Together Union branch secretary Alex Scott told members, including nurses, administration workers and cleaners, that no strikes were planned and said it was still unknown what action would be taken.

In an electronic message to union members, Mr Scott said there had been no consultation before the state government announcement but said up to that point negotiations with Queensland Health had been cordial.

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He called on the state to immediately introduce a promised enterprise bargaining deal for health workers of a 2.5 per cent wage increase, backdated to September 1, 2019 plus an extra $1250 payment, and other improvements.

He said union members at hospitals had expressed fears about their welfare and said they were still considering what action to take if measures were not improved to protect frontline hospital staff.

He also revealed that no date was ever set for the payment of the additional $1250.

“Things can be better,” Mr Scott said. “We are calling for continued meaningful consultation about service changes, personal protective equipment, safety and the necessary changes to how work is performed during a pandemic.

“We are also working towards more precise directions and clarity on how to support members who are vulnerable and at high risk from COVID-19.

“But industrial processes cannot be unilaterally shifted without any discussion by employers or via a press conference.”

His requests to government followed claims by a Logan Hospital staff member who said he was told to take annual leave because of a previous chronic illness.

The only comments the Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union has made so far is that discussions were ongoing and that its focus was on keeping the community and public safe.

However the AWU came out swinging again earlier today, claiming frontline health care workers were angry and upset.

AWU Queensland Branch Secretary Steve Baker said the Premier’s sudden announcement last week had been met with disbelief and anguish.

“In the past few days, we’ve spoken to countless frontline workers who have been left absolutely devastated by this decision,” he said.

“These are the cleaners, ward-persons, kitchen hands, laundry staff, and other frontline workers who right now are working around the clock to keep the community safe.

“We’ve had weeks of empty platitudes from Annastacia Palaszczuk about how important our frontline health workers are and what an incredible job they’re doing, yet when the time comes to actually show them some support, she turns around and ignores them.

“If she fails to act immediately, she’ll be making it very clear to frontline health workers currently risking everything to keep us all safe, that she just doesn’t care or value them.”

Metro South Health Logan Hospital staff say they are putting their lives at risk but have been denied a pay rise. AAP Image/Richard Walker

The hospital worker, who refused to be named, said he had been asked to stand down for an unspecified time during the coronavirus crisis.

“I have had a chronic illness but it is under control and I am fine to go to work in my admin position at the hospital,” the staff member said.

“It is unfair that I am being forced to take annual leave when there is nothing wrong with me.”

Mr Scott said frontline health workers were protecting Queenslanders and the household incomes of many public sector health workers had been hit hard by job losses.

“We have heard from members about partners, children and family members losing their jobs because of COVID-19 and the current crisis,” he said.

“This means that – more than ever – public sector wages are keeping Queensland families afloat.”