Why medical staff are preparing for first industrial action in 20 years
Victorian public hospital doctors are on the brink of their first industrial action in 20 years after agreeing on Monday to advance the process that would greenlight overtime bans and possible strike action.
The Australian Medical Association Victoria (AMA) and the Australian Salaried Paramedics Federation union have been negotiating a new pay deal for public hospital doctors for 10 months but have reached an impasse and accused the state government of backtracking on key demands.
At a meeting of more than 2,000 members on Monday night, it was decided to apply for a protected action order to the Fair Work Commission, which would then allow them to hold a vote allowing campaigns, strikes and other industrial action. There were only 12 votes against the move.
The last major industrial action by Victoria hospital doctors was a stop-work meeting in 2002.
If the protest continues, public hospital doctors will join teachers fighting the Allan government for a better pay deal.
At Monday’s meeting, they discussed three phases of increased actions that would be implemented if the vote is successful.
The first phase will include public campaigns such as posters, shirts, email auto-replies, and disruptions to administrative and billing processes.
The second stage will involve rejecting unscheduled overtime and events for which overtime will not be paid. In the third stage, strikes and work stoppages may occur as long as they do not affect patient safety.
“Our members have the final say on what industrial actions are taken,” an AMA spokesperson said.
“Initially our actions will focus on public campaigns and visibility, but in the coming months actions that will escalate disruption, including possible work stoppages, will be on the table if the government continues to ignore doctors.”
The recommended actions will be planned to minimize impacts on patient care, the spokesperson said.
AMA Victoria president Dr Simon Judkins said they would not compromise on patient safety.
“But it comes to a point where enough is enough… We will have to draw a line in the sand [by taking some form of protected action]he said.
“I hope the public will be there to support what we’re trying to achieve. Ultimately, it’s about making sure we connect the right people with the right supports in the right place.”
The initial claim submitted to the government in February included a 30 per cent pay increase over four years, but AMA Victoria said the government was yet to make its own official pay proposal.
By comparison, teachers rejected an offer 28 percent of the time over four years; This remains well below the headline demand of 35 percent for three years.
Judkins said a key sticking point is access to overtime, and they are pushing for a system that makes it easier to apply and get paid for hours worked above and beyond their roster.
He said the government accepted this but later rejected it.
“They literally told us it would be over, it would be too expensive, so they couldn’t afford to do it,” Judkins said.
“Demands are increasing. There are many people working unpaid for many jobs.
“It’s not just about money, it’s also about working conditions to ensure doctors can be the best they can be and not be exhausted and burned out.”
AMA Victoria said the government also refused to cover parental leave rights similar to those in other parts of the public service outside of medicine.
Health Minister Harriet Shing said negotiations continue in good faith.
“Victorian doctors provide first-class treatment and care right across the state and we will continue to support them,” he said.
The protected action order will now be submitted to the Fair Work Commission.
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