Allied health professionals from nine major public hospitals across South Australia will take stop-work action over a wages and conditions dispute with the state government.
The Health Services Union says the workers, which include physiotherapists, social workers, radiographers and occupational therapists, are taking a stand in response to the government's "insulting, unfair and disrespectful" approach to enterprise agreement negotiations.
The union has been seeking a commitment to safe staffing levels and workloads, an extension of professional development entitlements and a commitment to revised classification structures as well as a fair pay increase.
"We note that the government has provided nurses, teachers and police with wage increases through the pandemic, however, the approach towards allied health and other health workers has been insulting, unfair and disrespectful of our critical work and contribution to the South Australian community," the HSU said.
In response, it said workers would stage a series of one-hour rolling strikes across various hospitals on Friday.
Those to be impacted include the Royal Adelaide, the Women's and Children's, the Lyell McEwin and the Queen Elizabeth hospitals along with the Flinders Medical Centre.
Australian Associated Press
