Thousands of allied health professionals, including radiographers, sonographers, physiotherapists, podiatrists, speech pathologists and social workers, went on strike on June 16 to demand a fair wage, manageable workloads, action on gender-based undervaluation and stronger retention measures.
The strike was organised by the Victorian Allied Health Professionals Association (VAPHA). It has been nearly 10 years since allied health professionals took protected action to demand better pay and career structure reform.
VAHPA said they have faced a “decade of wage restraint, austerity, rising demand for their services, escalating workloads, the pressures of front line pandemic work and now workforce shortages with serious attraction and retention issues”.
Andrew Hewat, Executive Officer of VAPHA said in the lead-up that the “massive turnout” of union members who voted for protected industrial action “highlights the anger brewing” among allied health professionals. VAHPA reported that an average of 93% of members across 43 health services voted, with 99% supporting action. Fifteen health services recorded 100% turnout and 100% “Yes” votes.
“They need to see a wages offer from the [Jacinta] Allan government that reflects their worth and addresses the serious undervaluation of their work,” Hewat said.
The 24-hour strike included members of the Medical Scientists Association (MSAV), the Victorians Psychologists Association (VPA) and the Association of Hospital Pharmacists.
The unionists marched from the Department of Health to the Parliament House, where they were addressed by a number of healthcare professionals.
Kathy, a medical scientist with the MSAV, highlighted the complexity of health science work. She said the profession has been undervalued for too long and that Victorian Labor needs to come up with a “fair pay agreement”. She attributed the systemic “undervaluing” of the profession to it being female-dominated.
Helen Jeges, VPA President, said “healthcare workers deserve fairness” and they need to be “valued and respected”.
Amy, a nuclear scientist and VAPHA delegate highlighted how many are being underpaid and overworked, and called on the premier to pay healthcare professionals and medical scientists fairly.
Many of the speakers referenced the Fair Work Commission’s May findings that under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 allied health professionals have been undervalued and underpaid for years.
VAHPA is seeking a 36.18% wage rise over three years. After 24 meetings across eight months, the government has yet to make an offer.
