EXCELLENCE - EVERYWHERE EVERY DAY

EXCEPT IF EPWORTH HAVE TO PAY

 
Members of VPA have been in negotiations with Epworth Healthcare since September 07 over wages and conditions.

Epworth Dietitians, Sleep and Respiratory Scientists and Psychologists have not had a pay rise in 18 months and have voted to take industrial action by walking off the job for 4 hours tomorrow.

Jennie Bremner Acting Secretary of HSU#4, said today that “the union has attempted to negotiate a fair wages outcome for its highly skilled professional members however Epworth’s most recent pay offer punishes those psychologists who have led the campaign for a new agreement. Epworth’s behaviour is unlawful under Victorian law.

Ms Bremner said “No other health agency public or private has discriminated against Union members in this way. “

“Professional staff at Epworth have historically had their wages tied to those in the public Sector.  Epworth is now wanting psychologists to settle for less.  By so doing it is saying that psychologists at Epworth are worth less than those in every other hospital public or private in Victoria. Members have had enough of this victimisation and discrimination and are walking off the job tomorrow. “We are in this for as long as it takes” said Ms Bremner “our members will not accept being treated as second class citizens and will fight for wage justice.”

Members of the Union will walk off the job at 8:30 am tomorrow and hold a protest meeting at 9:00am outside Epworth Hospital 89 Bridge Road Richmond

“The money involved is nothing to a large privately run corporation but makes an enormous difference to individual members “

The union is seeking rates that are comparable with the public sector hospitals who compete with Epworth for staff.

For further information contact J. Bremner, Acting Secretary, HSU#4