Public sector workers unite

Date: 31 May 2002

In a display of solidarity, Q-Health workers condemned the Queensland government for locking out Q-Build workers and sent a warning regarding future negotiations.

Over 200 Queensland health workers from Princess Alexandra Hospital, wearing red, attended a lunchtime meeting today to mark the expiry date of their enterprise bargaining agreement.

A new agreement was supposed to be finalised from today.

So far, the Queensland government's delaying tactics during negotiations for a replacement agreement has resulted in no new agreement being finalised.

Queensland Council of Unions General Secretary Grace Grace said the meeting today passed resolutions that condemned the Government for peddling the same old bargaining policies and unrealistic pay offers.

"The meeting also condemned the Government for reneging on previous commitments regarding a guaranteed June 1 2002 pay rise," she said.

"In a display of solidarity, a special resolution was also passed that condemned the Government for "locking out" Q-Build workers and warned the Government that Q-Health workers will not tolerate such action within the Queensland Public Sector," she said.

"Queensland Health workers have major concerns including the need for sensible workloads, job security, a fair say at work and decent wages and conditions," Ms Grace said.

"Unions, who represent over 20,000 health workers, have formally lodged paperwork in the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC), authorising members to take protected industrial action, if needed, in order to achieve a replacement agreement," Ms Grace said.

"Industrial action is certainly an option unless the Queensland government start having meaningful negotiations with Q-Health workers and their representatives, she said.

For further information

Contact:	Liz Phillips
Union:	Queensland Council of Unions
Phone:	07 3846 2468
Contact Mobile:	0407 624 475
Email:	lizp@qcu.asn.au
WWW:	http://www.qcu.asn.au

LaborNET is proudly created, designed and programmed
by Social Change Online for the Labor Council of NSW
[Credits] [Site Matters]