Health workers rally for more pay
ABOUT 40 Rockhampton health practitioners held a short stop-work rally today asking for a larger pay rise.
The group rejected the 2.5% increase offered by the State Government with Queensland Public Sector Union Lead Organiser, Bob Elphinstone, saying a rise of up to 4.5% would be more appropriate.
“We’re campaigning for a fair pay rise,” Mr Elphinstone said.
“2.5% is less than the inflation rate and doesn’t deliver.”
Mr Elphinstone said there were many Queensland Health positions in Central Queensland that were unable to be filled because the employment incentives weren’t there.
Robert Forsythe, a delgate from the Liquor Hospitality Miscellanious Union agreed saying the Central Queensland health sector was having trouble maintaining staff.
He said workers who had spent years getting trained at university were being paid $60,000 and $70,000 a year.
“In Central Queensland you can earn more than that doing unskilled labour,” Mr Forsythe said.
“You can get $100,000 driving a truck. They’ve got to be competitive.”
