TasIVF and hospital staff walk-off job over pay parity

They support families in their fertility journey, but staff at a Hobart IVF clinic are hoping their employer will support their pay parity with interstate counterparts. Watch their walk-off.

Staff from one of two private fertility clinics in the state walked off the job for one hour on Monday as part of industrial action against their employer.

Embryologists, nurses and administrative staff from the TasIVF and Hobart Specialist Day Hospital stopped work as an escalating action against employer Virtus Health.

Staff claim they are being paid on average 10 per cent less than Virtus’ interstate clinics.

“They use the same equipment, the same suppliers, the same media, the same methods, and for some reason, on average we are paid 10 per cent less than them,” embryologist Matt said.

HACSU embryologists, nurses and administrative staff at TasIVF and Hobart Specialist Day Hospital walked off the job for an hour on Monday.

“We’ve tried to be respectful, but it’s pretty hard when they’re just not interested in giving us a fair wage.”

TasIVF and Hobart Specialist employees began negotiations six months ago, hoping to receive pay parity with the mainland clinics in the hopes of retaining staff.

“The wages currently are not enough to keep nurses and qualified embryologists around,” Matt said.

“It’s really difficult on a day-to-day basis, there’s seven of us who are embryologists.

“Some of us are part-time, some full-time.

“It’s when leave and sickness happens that’s the real pinch point and we’re doing our best to maintain a service.”

HACSU state secretary Robbie Moore and TasIVF embryologist Matt.

Health and Community Services Union (HACSU) Tasmanian secretary Robbie Moore said Virtus Health had made “heavy-handed action” against its employees by making “threats to dock their pay for not completing minor administrative tasks”, including how long it takes employees to change into work scrubs.

“Embryologists are essential to the IVF process, ensuring the meticulous handling and care of embryos, but here we have an employer telling these workers they’re worth less than their mainland counterparts performing the same crucial roles,” Mr Moore said.

“While Virtus continues to show complete disregard for these workers, their workload and stress only continue to increase because their employer can’t attract or retain staff due to the significant pay gap,” he added.

Mr Moore confirmed action would escalate if a resolution beneficial to employees and employer was not reached.

HACSU embryologists, nurses and administrative staff at TasIVF and Hobart Specialist Day Hospital walked off the job for an hour on Monday.

TasIVF managing director Adurty Rao said it was disappointed in HACSU’s position but assured that patients would not be impacted by industrial action of its staff.

“We have put forward fair proposals in line with local market conditions and we remain committed to negotiating in an open and constructive manner,” she said.

“We are committed to maintain a safe and cost-effective IVF service to the local Tasmanian market with the highest clinical standards possible.

“We want to reassure our patients and their families that any industrial action will not impact patient care and outcomes in any way.”

Originally published as TasIVF and hospital staff walk-off job over pay parity