Qld radiation workers, skydivers strike over massive wage cuts
Two separate strikes have been held as battles over pay continue, with one boss claiming his industry is still recovering from a Covid-19 downturn and union bosses are being ‘irresponsible’.
Sunshine Coast workers have walked off the job this week in protest of what they claim is unfair pay and work conditions, with skydiving instructors and radiation clinicians potentially losing tens of thousands of dollars in wages.
Hundreds of highly skilled radiation clinicians and nuclear medicine scientists went on strike on December 3 around Queensland over the potential loss of bonuses worth up to $30,000 a year.
The retention bonus was introduced by the then Labor government in 2022 in recognition of radiation therapy skills.
But it could be axed under a wage offer from the state LNP government.
Senior clinical educator radiation therapist at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Alana Huntress, participated in the two hour-stop work last Wednesday, and said it was a common misconception they were “facing the loss of a bonus”.
“The Radiation Therapist allowance we stand to lose is an integral part of our pay that honours and acknowledges the complexity and specialist nature of our role,” Ms Huntress said.
“Losing this allowance is obviously extremely distressing for all the staff here and will have a life changing impact to our wellbeing, livelihood and financial security.
“The pay cut will result in a mass exit of highly specialised staff who will leave for interstate or international opportunities.”
According to the United Workers’ Union website, some staff could see a loss of 25 per cent of their pay,
Ms Huntress said the potential 25 per cent pay cut was not sustainable for staff, with some questioning whether they would “be forced to sell their family home”.
“Who can cop a 25 per cent pay cut and be unaffected,” Ms Huntress said.
“There are a large proportion of radiation therapists for whom it won’t be feasible to continue living on the Sunshine Coast and staying in the profession.
“Many will resign to pursue opportunities interstate and overseas.
“There are staff who genuinely worry they will be forced to sell their family home, and others who are on the verge of buying their first home but are now unsure whether to pursue a mortgage in this time of uncertainty.”
Ms Huntress maintained that patient care always remained their top priority.
“The stop works were designed in a way that minimised impacts to treatment, and statewide it was assured that all patients would receive their treatment despite the two-hour stoppage,” Ms Huntress said.
“Let us just remember that the impacts to the patients will be far more significant if the pay cut occurs, as access to life-saving treatment options will be compromised due to the lack of specialist staff.”
Ms Huntress said another stop work was planned for next week.
A Sunshine Coast Health spokeswoman said it supported the rights of employees and unions to participate in “lawful protected” industrial action.
“While this is a standard part of the bargaining process, our ongoing priority remains ensuring patient safety and maintaining continuity of care across all health service operations,” she said.
Skydiving instructors go on strike
Skydiving customers can expect delays with “no planes taking to the sky” with all Skydiving Australia dropzones planning a rally today over wages and working conditions.
Skydive Australia is part of Experience Co, one of Australia’s biggest tourism operators, with eight locations in Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales striking, including Skydive Noosa.
The December 5 protest followed a stalled negotiation for a first-ever enterprise agreement, which has been ongoing for 10 months.
Some workers have referred to this as “a company willing to trade away the industry’s reputation for profit”.
“Some offers have included cuts of between $20,000 and $100,000 a year, while the latest proposal would slash the minimum annual wage for skydiving instructors from $57,000 to just $49,000, with earnings dependent on a very low ‘per jump’ piece-rate,” a media release stated.
“Experience Co’s message is clear: they want to turn these skilled professionals into gig workers, paid less, working more, and carrying the same enormous responsibility.
“Would you jump out of a plane with an instructor who can’t afford to feed their family, while the company pockets millions?”
Australian Workers’ Union Organiser Sunshine Coast, Michael Anderson, said workers were just asking for a “fair go”.
“Skydivers across the country and especially here at Noosa have been bargaining for the last 10 months around industry standard wages,” Mr Anderson said.
“Unfortunately, these workers have seen the value of their employment and the conditions decrease, and we’re just asking for a fair go so they can have a liveable wage and live in the location where these drop zones are.”
Mr Anderson hoped the outcome of the rally would lead to a positive outcome for workers.
“They will table a wage offer that sees sustainability in the industry and provides these workers a liveable wage that they can obviously support their families, and pay their bills,” Mr Anderson said.
CEO of Experience Co, which owns SkyDive Australia, John O’Sullivan said they were disappointed with the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) “unreasonable and irresponsible industrial action”.
“We urge the AWU to reconsider its actions and put a stop to the reckless disruption it is causing,” Mr O’Sullivan said.
“Skydive Australia is a business recovering from COVID that proudly employs people in, and attracts visitors to, regional Australia.
“These employment opportunities should be encouraged and fostered, not threatened by unreasonable and irresponsible actions by militant union bosses.”
Mr O’Sullivan claimed the company had made “numerous offers” to the union, including six-figure salaries.
“[The offers] would provide the union’s members with job security and conditions in the sector, including six-figure salaries for Tandem Masters in popular locations,” Mr O’Sullivan said.
“The AWU has rejected every offer and responded with an ambit claim in November which would add massive costs that are simply not viable for the business in its current state of recovery.
“It also includes conditions that do not benefit employees, as well as remuneration clauses for unproductive tasks such as sitting on buses.”
Mr O’Sullivan is calling on the union to “return to the bargaining table”, so a solution can be made as soon as possible.
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