Centrelink, Medicare staff to walk off job for seven hours

CENTRELINK, Medicare and Child Support clients are being urged to use online and self-service options when staff walk off the job today.

Human services staff have been stuck in negotiations for more than three years without a pay rise and the department is refusing to budge.

CENTRELINK, Medicare and child support staff will walk off the job today over a long-running pay dispute.

The human services staff have been stuck in negotiations for more than three years without a pay rise and the department is refusing to budge, CPSU national secretary Nadine Flood said.

“All they want to do is hold on to rights and conditions that have been in place for many years and allow them to balance their working and family lives,” she said ahead of the strike, to take place between 1.30pm and 8.30pm (AEDT).

Medicare, Centrelink and Child Support staff will walk off the job as part of a long-running pay dispute.

Anyone who needs to access Centrelink, Medicare or Child Support after the strike begins is urged to use the agencies’ online and self-service options.

Department of Human Services general manager Hank Jongen said the department was attempting to minimise any disruption to services.

Staff would still be available to help those who needed immediate assistance, he said.

“I can reassure people that ongoing customer payments will not be affected by the industrial action,” Mr Jongen said.

Department of Human Services general manager Hank Jongen has urged clients to use self-service and online options.

“It is possible however that there will be a reduced number of staff in our service centres and on the phones.

“I recommend people access self-service options available through myGov and the Centrelink, Medicare and Child Support mobile apps.

“We will also have arrangements in place to make sure that staff will still be available to help those in financial hardship and who need immediate assistance.”

A statement from the Department said it was “disappointed” the union was taking industrial action while bargaining continued with workers.