Hundreds of public hospital doctors to walk off the job next week, as pay dispute hits stalemate
Hundreds of public hospital doctors are set to walk off the job as their pay dispute with the state government reaches a stalemate.
Hundreds of public hospital doctors are set to walk off the job next week, after a pay dispute between the union and state government hit a stalemate on Wednesday.
Between 500 and 700 members of the SA Salaried Medical Officers Association (SASMOA) are expected to strike on Wednesday next week, if negotiations fail at a last-minute meeting organised on Thursday.
Industrial action will be held outside the Department for Health and Wellbeing offices near Hindmarsh Square in the city.
Doctors are calling for a 10 per cent pay increase per year, over the next three years.
The state government is offering 3.5 per cent a year.
Chief industrial officer at SASMOA, Bernadette Mulholland told The Advertiser that the Union was still at the bargaining table, and urged the government to increase pay for junior doctors.
“We’ve given a strong commitment to the government that we’re prepared to compromise on the percentage increase,” she said.
“And we’ve also given a commitment to government in those discussions moving forward, that we’d be very happy to ensure that we actually increase the amount of money for TMO’s (Trainee Medical Officers) to greater than consultants.
“Our junior medical workforce, they are the second lowest paid in the country.”
Ms Mulholland urged the government to consider demands as the market for doctors was also competitive.
“We need to actually make sure that our salaries are competitive with the rest of the nation, because the market for doctors, unfortunately, spans nationally and internally, so we have to remain competitive.
“We’ve got negotiations with the (state government) negotiators tomorrow afternoon, and hopefully from that, we might see progress.
“But if we don’t, we’ll move to mass strike action next Wednesday.”
Ms Mulholland said doctors and staff had planned carefully to strike, in an effort to have as little impact on patients as possible.
A spokesperson for the state government said they would continue to negotiate in good faith, and advised against any strike action next week that would “inconvenience” patients.
“The State Government has continued to negotiate in good faith with the doctor’s union over past weeks, including through multiple formal bargaining meetings.
“The Government urges the union to remain at the bargaining table rather than take strike action which threatens to cause significant inconvenience to South Australians seeking to access healthcare.
“The Government has put forward real pay rises above current inflation, as well as additional support for the state’s most junior doctors.
“We are prepared to continue negotiating in good faith, however we cannot agree to the union’s demand for a 30% pay rise over 3 years.”
Public hospital doctors from every major metropolitan hospital are expected to join the strike next week.
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Originally published as Hundreds of public hospital doctors to walk off the job next week, as pay dispute hits stalemate
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