Union out to protect 400 health jobs | Northern Rivers News | Local News in Northern Rivers

Graham Orams | 16th July 2009

THE jobs of 400 North Coast Area Health Service (NCAHS) employees remain in limbo after the Industrial Relations Commission this week withheld its decision on whether the job cuts could legally proceed.

Health Services Union (HSU) is fighting to have the redundancies overturned, with representative Ken McIntosh describing the proposed job cuts as 'slash and burn' and criticising the health service for its apparent unwillingness to consult with the union.

Mr McIntosh said there was a long way to go with proceedings but the union would never accept a reduction in staff numbers that resulted in a reduction of services.

In the meantime, however, Mr McIntosh said the union would attempt to continue negotiations with the service over the cuts.

“If NCAHS can prove its budget will not sustain current staff numbers, HSU will look at that provided it will not affect staff workloads or patient care,” he said.

Meanwhile, a Grafton Base Hospital 'insider' yesterday told The Examiner she was concerned about the health service's plans to close the six-bed high-dependency-unit catering for patients requiring a higher level of nursing care.

The insider described the move as 'a back-door way of reducing staff numbers'.

She also said it was time the greater-Grafton community 'got off their backsides' and protested about cuts to hospital services.

A NCAHS spokesperson said the Industrial Relations Commission 'made it clear' to the union that the service needed to operate within its budget and that wages were 'easily the biggest component' of that.

The spokesperson said the commissioner challenged the industrial associations to put forward alternative ways of reducing staffing levels if they were not satisfied with the service's proposals.

The matter is scheduled to be dealt with by the Industrial Relations Commission's on July 29. A stop-work meeting will be held the next day in front of Grafton Base Hospital between 10-11am to discuss the outcome of the hearing.

The public is urged to attend to make its views known.

• Daily newspapers
• Bundaberg News-Mail
• Coffs Coast Advocate
• Fraser Coast Chronicle
• Gladstone Observer
• Grafton Daily Examiner
• Gympie Times
• Ipswich Queensland Times
• Lismore Northern Star
• Mackay Daily Mercury
• Rockhampton Morning Bulletin
• Sunshine Coast Daily
• Toowoomba Chronicle
• Tweed Daily News
• Warwick Daily News
• Community newspapers
• Ballina Shire Advocate
• Biloela Central Telegraph
• Byron Shire News
• Coolum & North Shore News
• East-Ipswich Satellite
• Emerald Central Queensland News
• Gatton Star
• Gold Coast Mail
• Ipswich Advertiser
• Logan Reporter
• Noosa News
• The Northern Rivers Echo
• Whitsunday Times
• Other publications
• Surat Basin News