Environmental Services workers at the Royal Hobart Hospital are ramping up their fight for fair pay, walking off the job for one hour today after months of stonewalling by the state government.
Cleaners are the backbone of hospital safety and hygiene, and for more than six months workers have been seeking proper compensation when they are required to train and orientate new staff.
Despite the critical responsibility of this work, hospital management continues to dismiss their request, tabling an insulting offer that refuses to recognise training duties as anything more than “buddying,” and denying workers the mixed functions allowance they are owed.
“Calling this ‘buddying’ is a disgraceful attempt to downplay the responsibility workers take on when they train new staff,” said HACSU State Secretary Robbie Moore.
“This isn’t about showing someone where the mop is, it’s about ensuring new workers understand infection control, safety procedures, and the standards that keep patients and staff safe. That requires skill and responsibility, and it deserves to be paid,” he added.
“The government is trying to get this work done on the cheap, and these workers are done being exploited. If hospital management want properly trained staff, they need to respect and pay the workers doing the training.”
In addition to today’s strike action, cleaning staff have enforced a complete ban on all forms of “buddying” or training until the government recognises the work for what it is and pays the proper allowance. Workers are united and determined they will not return to unpaid training.