BY BILL MASON
BRISBANE — More than 10,000 Queensland public hospital nurses struck for up to 24 hours on June 20 in support of their claims for pay rises and improved working conditions. The nurses voted unanimously at rallies around the state to close 25% of beds in the state's hospitals to ensure a manageable workload.
More hospitals will stage 24-hour strikes in the coming week. The nurses also plan a march similar the one in 1998 which attracted 5000 workers.
The nurses are claiming a 6% rise for each of the next two years, plus a 6% wage adjustment to bring them into line with what nurses are paid in other states. The Queensland Labor government, led by Premier Peter Beattie, has offered 3% per year, plus a retention package.
Hundreds of nurses protested outside the Royal Brisbane Hospital on June 20, waving banners and placards with the slogans, "Not happy, Wendy" [Edmond, state health minister], "Peter [Beattie], can we borrow the jet?" and "Nurses care, does Beattie?". Passing motorists honked their car horns in support.
Queensland Nurses Union (QNU) organiser James Gilbert said the unprecedented state-wide strikes were prompted by working conditions that have reached "crisis point". "I've never seen it like this before. Nurses are incensed. They are fighting to save their profession", he said.
Beattie's response to the industrial action has been to offer to return to the negotiating table with the QNU, sidestepping the Industrial Relations Commission for the time being. He hinted at possible room to manoeuvre on some aspects of a new agreement, but vowed that there could be no increase of the $250 million offer already on the table.
On June 19, reports Robyn Marshall, staff employed by Queensland Health at Royal Brisbane Hospital also took strike action, walking out for one hour to discuss pay claims and working conditions. Orderlies, ancillary staff and hospital research workers are unhappy at the Queensland government's 3% pay offer.
The workers are also upset at Queensland Health's bullying tactics of standing down some workers who took industrial action. A meeting of 200 workers, from the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellanous Union, the Australian Services Union and Queensland Public Sector Union, also condemned the government for locking out Q-Build workers.
From Green Left Weekly, June 26, 2002.
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