Hospital staff strike over pay
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The union says about 200 hospital workers will go on strike for four hours this afternoon in Cairns, Innisfail, Mareeba, Atherton, Mossman and Port Douglas. (ABC TV-file image)
Hospital administrative staff will stop work in far north Queensland today as part of a pay dispute with the State Government.
The Queensland Public Sector Union (QPSU) says about 200 workers will go on strike for four hours this afternoon in Cairns, Innisfail, Mareeba, Atherton, Mossman and Port Douglas.
QPSU spokesman Kevin O'Sullivan says public servants are rejecting the State Government's offer of a 3.25 per cent pay rise.
"What they're actually asking people to do is take a pay cut," he said.
"Food's going up, mortgages are going up, everything's going up, petrol is going up and .... they want workers to go home with less money this year than they did last year - that's what the Government's actually asking them to do."
Mr O'Sullivan says an offer of 5 per cent is more realistic.
"I mean we all live in Cairns so we know the prices - $100 doesn't hardly buy you any groceries nowadays, so that's what we're talking about," he said.
"Direct impacts on families in far north Queensland and as you go further north, our members are telling us in the Torres Strait it's $10 for a loaf of bread and two litres of milk.
"I think [Premier] Anna Bligh and the State Government need to put a decent offer on the table."
Administrative workers in hospital across the state are also taking industrial action, but are not stopping work.
Queensland Health says arrangements have been put in place to ensure patients do not suffer because of the action.
