Cancer Care Workers Strike in South Australia
Professionals Australia members – Medical Physicists and Radiopharmaceutical Scientists, will take industrial action today by stopping work to demand respect, fair pay, and a response from the State Government after nine months of stalled Enterprise Agreement negotiations. Despite their highly specialised role in cancer care, these medical professionals employed by SA Health remain amongst the lowest paid in the country.
Paul Inglis, Director at Professionals Australia, said that Medical Physicists and Radiopharmaceutical Scientists play an essential role in cancer care, ensuring radiation is safely and effectively delivered, and are responsible for developing life-saving radiopharmaceuticals used in nuclear medicine.
Despite their extraordinary contribution to the health and welfare of cancer patients, Mr Inglis said these workers are falling far behind.
“Since 2017, their wages have dropped 14.1% in real terms compared to CPI, and SA salaries are considerably lower than in other states. So far, the government’s only offer has been a 3% per year increase, which is well short of what’s needed to correct the wage gap.”
Mr Inglis said the industrial action was unavoidable after continued delays from the Government.
“Medical Physicists and Radiopharmaceutical Scientists are paid up to 40% less than their colleagues interstate, and despite months of good-faith bargaining, the Government has not even responded to our specific claims.
“These clinicians have never taken this sort of industrial action before. The fact that they are now shows how desperate the situation has become.
“These are some of the most highly educated and specialised staff in our public hospitals, and we risk losing them to better-paid jobs interstate. That puts patient safety and cancer treatment capacity in South Australia at risk.
“Our members are professionals. They will always put patient care first, but these essential clinicians are due the pay they deserve.
“We’ll cooperate with SA Health to maintain critical staffing, but we won’t back down until a fair deal is on the table.”
Today’s stop-work action will occur from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm, with members rallying at Royal Adelaide Hospital at the Amphitheatre near SAHMRI. All steps taken are carefully managed to protect patient safety while members continue urging the Government to deliver long-overdue respect and fair pay.