Hundreds of mental health workers took stop work action on June 17 and marched from the Victorian Trades Hall to Parliament House where they demanded better wages and conditions.
The rally was organised by the Health and Community Services Union (HACSU) and supported by a range of unions, including the Community and Public Sector Union, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (Victorian Branch), the Australian Education Union, Rail Tram and Bus Union, the Victorian Allied Health Professionals Association and the Retail and Fast Food Workers Union.
HACSU is in negotiations with Victorian Labor over its public mental health enterprise agreement. The union at the end of last year, which it described as falling 鈥渨ell below the standards set by other recent public service agreements in Victoria鈥.
HACSU State Secretary Paul Healey said there is a need for a strong and robust mental health system that works for everybody, 鈥渟tarting with our members being paid properly鈥.
Monique, a HACSU member, told the rally that Labor鈥檚 pay offer is 鈥渁n insult鈥 and the union must demand better.
Sarah Hathway, HACSU delegate and a social worker in community health services, told 麻豆传媒 that Labor is 鈥渞efusing to address鈥 any of their claims and there needs to be 鈥渆qual pay between different 麻豆传媒 of the healthcare sector鈥.
This was HACSU鈥檚 second stop-work action and it has plans for more action.
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