Pay rise announced for more than 60,000 health and hospital workers in NSW
The cash boost of at least $10,000 over four years was brokered by the Health Services Union NSW (HSU NSW), and will be put to members on Monday, with the unanimous backing of HSU NSW's Branch Committee of Management.
While the agreement covers allied health professionals, it also covers wards persons, cleaners, linen workers, administration staff, and pharmacy assistants working across major city hospitals, rural health services and community health centres.
A hospital assistant on $52,000 would get a $10,000 increase, landing on a $62,000 salary by 2027.
A wards person's salary will increase by $10,400, and a security officer's salary will increase by $10,500.
'That's real money that makes a real difference to working families,' union secretary Gerard Hayes said.
The full pay rise will be staggered annually over the four years to June 2027.
'From the audiologists who help restore hearing, to the cleaners who maintain infection control, to the patient transport staff who provide dignity and care — every single one of our members deserves recognition,' Hayes said.
Workers will get a four per cent pay rise in the first year of the two-year deal, and a second four per cent pay rise the year after, with a 0.5 per cent superannuation increase, HSU NSW said.
It exceeds the government's three per cent wage policy.
The deal comes just days after a pay rise request from The NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association was met with a 3.5 per cent pay rise offer from the NSW Government.
It would be back-paid to July 1, and changes to working conditions would embed the right to two consecutive days off, no night shifts before annual leave unless requested, and no changes on published rosters without consultation.
Night shift workers would also see their loading increase to 20 per cent under the agreement.
In addition, the NSW Minns Government acknowledged concerns about a gendered undervaluation of work, leading to gender inequality in the workplace.
It legislated improved gender equity objectives under the Industrial Relations Act in May, which the Industrial Relations Commission will be required to consider.
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