South Australian Public Sector Workers United

02/06/2023

01/06/2023

Health members have WON BIG! 🚗🚌

In what has been a long, hard-fought fight, hospital workers have won $25/fortnight capped parking permit fees and FREE public transport.

“Our win couldn’t have come at a better time. Just a few weeks ago, I was figuring out what costs I would cut, just to make ends meet. My kids’ sport was one of those costs – but with this win, we won’t have to. I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved as Union members working together,” Gail, UWU member and health worker.

This outcome would never have come about if not for the tireless efforts of UWU members, who rallied, held stop work actions and petitioned the Health Minister, calling for a fair resolution to exorbitant hospital parking fees.

Solidarity with every single health member who showed workers are prepared to stand together and take action for a fair deal!

26/05/2023

Today we pause to acknowledge the trauma and loss of Stolen Generations and commemorate Sorry Day.

As Union members, we share empathy for the struggles of our brothers and sisters, and support fairness when others are wronged.

We also have conversations about how we can do better, so no one is left behind.

This year, doing better is an invitation UWU members are called to accept, through support for a Voice to Parliament.

To address much needed healing and tackle issues of equity, it is time to say YES.
Keep up to date here https://unitedworkers.org.au/voteforvoice/

24/04/2023

Today we honour the sacrifices of courageous men and women who have served our nation in war and conflict.

Lest we forget.

06/02/2023

Did you catch last week's announcement of a review of all hospital services currently delivered by private companies? 👏🏥

UWU members know privatisation is a broken model and outsourcing = insecure work and wage theft!

Union members are committed to fighting together to ensure the outsourcing of essential public services is finally put to bed!

The union for healthcare and laundry workers says a linen shortage is leading to hospital beds being unable to be used in South Australia, just as a Productivity Commission report says the state has the worst ambulance waiting times nationally.

24/08/2022

Solidarity with every single South Australian health worker who took action last Friday in the fight for free car parking and public transport.

With the risk of Covid still running high in our community, and cost of living pressures ever increasing, frontline health workers NEED car parking and transport that is FREE.

Low paid health workers should NEVER need to worry about affording to get to work!

‼ Don't forget to sign the petition ➡️ https://unitedworkers.org.au/sa-mps-end-health-worker-car-parking-fees-2/

19/08/2022

Essential health workers spoke up - and Adelaide paid attention!

More than 100 SA health workers took their action to SA Health's doorstep today to tell them: health workers deserve free parking.

Check out this great video:

https://fb.watch/e_TY8fg0Uc/

19/08/2022

Health worker Barb on what essential health workers were given as a reward for their hard work during the pandemic: "We were lucky if we got a giant chocolate freckle."

Today essential health workers showed SA Health they would continue to fight against car parking fees that would result in a pay cut.

Brave South Australian Public Sector Workers United members went on strike in their hundreds and took over Hindmarsh Square to tell SA Health: listen to us as we face a cost-of-living crisis and a Covid crisis.

Workers will not stop until SA Health listens to their concerns.

18/08/2022

On RIGHT NOW - United Workers Union members in seven major Adelaide hospitals are walking off the job to protest against being slugged up to $1300 in car parking fees.

“For a hospital cleaner who is making $27 an hour, imposing parking fees of $1300 is the equivalent of a pay cut of more than 2 per cent," says United Workers Union Public Sector Co-ordinator Paul Blackmore.

“That leaves them going even further backward when it’s the lowest-paid that also really feel the effects of inflation now standing at more than 6 per cent annually.

“We are asking the SA Government: show some understanding of cost-of-living pressures facing these workers and end the imposition of these fees."

Read the full press release here: https://unitedworkers.org.au/media-release/health-workers-on-strike-over-car-parking-fees/

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-19/adelaide-hospital-workers-go-on-strike-for-free-parking/101349100

The lowest-paid workers in South Australia's health system will walk off the job today in protest of the state government's decision to once again charge hospital workers for parking.

17/08/2022

It's time to take action! ✊

If you're a health worker, expensive car parking fees and public transport costs shouldn't be eating into your wages.

Come rally this Friday from 7.45am at Hindmarsh Square and let Government know health workers need to get to work, and need free parking and transport!

Lend your voice: https://unitedworkers.org.au/sa-mps-end-health-worker-car-parking-fees-3/

Authorised by D. Pnevmatikos, United Workers Union, Adelaide.

10/08/2022

BREAKING: SA Hospital workers announce an Adelaide-wide walk-off on Friday next week.

Workers are being forced to take action after a failure by the SA Government to listen to workers’ concerns about the introduction of parking and public transport fees.

“While fears about the impact of fees of up to $1300 a year appear to have been dismissed out of hand by the SA Government, you can be sure the fees are causing real fear and heartache among essential health workers,” Paul Blackmore, Public Sector Co-ordinator for United Workers Union, said today.

“The fact that it has come to this marks a failure by the SA Government to understand the cost-of-living pressures facing some of South Australia’s lowest-paid workers.

“When inflation is running at more than 6 per cent – with Adelaide experiencing the highest inflation in the most recent quarter - budgets are being squeezed and the imposition of fees of this magnitude is devastating.

“It’s also ridiculous that these measures were introduced to make hospitals run smoothly while workers faced Covid – and now South Australia is dealing with the largest Covid surge to date.”

Tell SA Govt MPs that hard-working health heroes deserve every bit of help they can get to keep the hospital system running smoothly:

https://unitedworkers.org.au/media-release/parking-fees-health-workers-in-city-wide-stoppage/

Read the full release here:
https://unitedworkers.org.au/.../parking-fees-health.../
Authorised by D. Pnevmatikos, United Workers Union, Mile End, Adelaide

08/07/2022

TODAY at Lyell McEwin Hospital essential workers showed they are prepared to fight for free car parking and free public transport as they walked off the job.

It's not right or fair that Chris Picton MP and Peter Malinauskas are taking away something workers are relying on - as the cost of living soars and Covid reaches a fresh peak in the community.

This is what workers say about losing access to parking that helps hospitals run smoothly:

Kerry says: “I am dreading having to walk to work at 6am in winter. I feel unsafe, and it’s already making me anxious. If SA Health is desperate for good staff, why would the Government make the job even more difficult for us?”

Karen says: “Something would have to be surrendered. I look after my grandchildren during school holidays when I can. Once during their holidays I take them for a treat, it may be the movies. This one treat is the thing that will have to go. Having to pay to go to work would mean that my grandkids are paying the price and that is appalling.”