Only Union Cares Says Former Hospital Manager – Now a Voice for Health Unions Campaign
30 | 09 |2008
Shirley Arnott used to be in management at the Gold Coast Hospital but she cared too much about the staff.
“ Management is under so much pressure nowadays that I decided the only people who can care for the staff is the union – so I guess I’ve changed sides,” Shirley explains.
Shirley will be a speaker at the Gold Coast rally tomorrow, organized by the Australian Workers’ Union and other health unions. More than five thousand workers around the state are expected to attend rallies. “ Working conditions in hospitals are now under real threat as management wants to take away basic work rights,” Shirley explains.
“ Contracting out is probably the worst issue. That’s not just a threat to the staff but patient’s will find it a problem for patients if you find the people helping you are all essentially casual staff who have to re-learn your problems each time their on ward.
“The quality of the cleaning goes down when you bring in for-profit contractors. It has been tried before and the medical staff have been so concerned about the health implications they demand a return to directly employed staff.
“ Now also hospitals want to change the rostering flexibility.
“ You find lots of people working at the hospital choose to do shift work because it is convenient for their home life – their partner does another shift so they can cover their children’s needs.
“ If the right to opt for a particular shift is taken away then you’ll find many dedicated people will just walk away from the job – because it hurts their home life.”
Shirley Arnott used to be in management at the Robina Hospital but she cared too much about the staff. “ Management is under so much pressure nowadays that I decided the only people who can care for the staff is the union – so I guess I’ve changed sides,” Shirley explains. Shirley will be a speaker at the Gold Coast rally today, organized by the Australian Workers’ Union and other health unions. More than five thousand workers around the state are expected to attend.
AWU State Secretary, Bill Ludwig, says it’s important that the Queensland Premier hears the views of the workforce in Queensland Health. These people are campaigning to ensure the state has the best health system.
“ That’s why we will have the voices of Health workers heard at the rallies today in Townsville, Rockhampton, Mackay and Cairns,” Bill Ludwig said.
“ Listen carefully you will hear that all our members are asking for is the respect for the jobs they do, recognition of the importance of their place in the health system, and the resources to do their jobs properly. The health system can’t operate without them,” he said.
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