Breaking Promises and Reneging on Agreements
www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today accused the Health Minister Lara Giddings and her Department of obstructing negotiations with allied health workers over pay and conditions and risking an exodus of allied health professionals to other states where they are accorded proper respect, and paid accordingly.
Greens Health and Human Services spokesperson Cassy O’Connor MP said the Bartlett Government has broken promises made to unions, reneged on previously agreed deals and refused to engage in genuine discussions, which is pushing allied health workers to breaking point where they feel that they have no option but to resort to industrial action.
“The Government has been obstructing negotiations after allied health workers were unwilling to accept the paltry offer of a 4.5% increase over the next four years, without any genuine improvements in conditions,” said Ms O’Connor.
“If this terrible attitude towards our allied health workers continues then we could well face a disaster as these workers flee interstate where their skills and dedication are recognised and rewarded properly. If this were to occur, there would be an inevitable decline in services for Tasmanians in need.”
“In Question Time today I asked the Health Minister if she agreed that the government had not negotiated in good faith, and whether she would commit the government to recommencing talks in good faith. In a startling flash of honesty the Minister effectively admitted to Parliament that the government had not conducted itself well in negotiations, and that it was committed to restarting talks towards an agreed outcome.”
“I trust for the sake of Tasmania’s allied health professionals, and the people they look after, that the Minister is true to her word on the government’s behalf,” said Ms O’Connor.
ATTACHED: Letter of support from Cassy O’Connor MP that was acknowledged at the Allied Health Professionals rally outside Parliament House today.
Nov17_Letter of Support for Health Workers_C O’Connor_ATTACH.pdf
Cassy O’Connor MP Greens Health and Human Services Spokesperson
