Alliance Party Supports Strike By “Forgotten Health Workers”

The Alliance Party today came out in support of the proposed week-long strike by support staff in the hospital system who did not benefit from the nurses’ recent 30% catch-up pay rise.

Party co-leader Paul Piesse said that a whole range of essential support workers had not had reasonable pay rises funded by the Government.

“It is quite disgraceful that key workers in an essential public service like health are largely ignored, or forgotten, or taken for granted”, he said.

“Some clinical records staff are paid as little as $9.70 per hour”, Paul Piesse said. “Their work is vital if medical staff are to perform effectively. The people responsible for such contemptible pay rates – barely above the statutory minimum wage – should be thoroughly ashamed”.

“Clinical records is one of the largely forgotten health occupations, which includes people in the mental health area, occupational and dental therapists, medical social workers, maintenance staff and radiological and ward clerical people.”

“Health workers are dedicated to the public good”, said Paul Piesse, “and only desperation would drive them to stop work. The Alliance Party calls on the public, and especially the Council of Trade Unions, to support them, and to demand that the authorities properly fund their work”.

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