The Guardian 6 February, 2008
Victoria:
Medical scientists begin rolling strikes
Rolling stoppages by medical scientists employed in Victoria’s hospitals begin at 9 am today in support of their claim for wage rises. As The Guardian went to press the 24-hour walk-outs had begun at Southern Health which includes, Monash Medical Centre, Casey Hospital, Dandenong Hospital, Moorabbin Hospital, Kingston Centre, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, Adult Mental Health Service, Community Health services.
Hundreds of scientists, psychologists and pharmacists from across Southern Health will demonstrated outside Monash Medical Centre on Tuesday February 5.
On Wednesday February 6, the strikes will hit St Vincent’s Health, disrupting services at St Vincent’s Hospital, St George’s Hospital and St Vincent’s Mental Health Service.
The stoppages will spread on February 7 to the Austin Hospital, the Mercy Hospital for Women, Northern Hospital, Royal Talbot Centre and
Werribee Mercy Hospital and on February 8, to the Alfred Hospital, William Buckland Cancer Centre, Sandringham Hospital, Caulfield Hospital, Bayside Mental Health Services and Bendigo Hospital. The following week, the stoppages will start with Melbourne Health.
The Secretary of the Medical Scientists Association, Dr Rosemary Kelly, says health sector bureaucrats have dragged out wages negations for five months.
She says pathology scientists, dieticians, psychologists, pharmacists, medical physicists, audiologists, clinical perfusionists and other science-qualified health professionals are seeking the same pay deal as that agreed for Victoria’s nurses.
Dr Kelly says although patients will experience delays and inconvenience, including cancellation of elective surgery, members would ensure adequate staff numbers remained on duty to deal with emergencies.