Our action on Wednesday was truly something to behold as workers walked out in anger and frustration across the state and even on the islands.
 
Every single one of you – the ones who turned out and the ones who held the fort – should be proud that you’re standing up and saying enough is enough.
 
But Wednesday was only the beginning. While we continue to meet with the government’s negotiation team, we still do not have any further offer or any concrete agreement on the conditions that have been at front and centre of your claims since the start of negotiations. And we still have the government threatening that no agreement by 1 December will mean no backpay.
 
We have been told that there may be another updated offer in the coming week which will deal with more issues than the last one.
 
We want a complete, genuine offer that we can come and talk to you about. Right now, we only have a wages offer, an offer of some improved leave provisions for certain workers, and a swathe of outstanding issues that you’ve made clear need to be fixed.
 
The community is on our side. They can’t believe what’s going on with our services. We need to keep making sure they’re well-informed.
 
As a reminder, our current endorsed industrial action is:

• Displaying union messaging and slogans in workplaces. This includes public buildings and vehicles.
• Distributing union material to patients, clients, consumers, their families, and the community.
• Wearing union badged clothing during work time.
• Participating in media events (including interviews concerning issues associated with negotiations).

We’ll be out and about over the next week to talk to you as we’re really keen for you to get involved.

There’ll be delegate meetings coming up very soon too, so make sure you talk to your local HACSU delegate if you have any questions or ideas for more action.

There’s only 13 working days until the government’s deadline. It’s time to demand better.