A push to privatise the employment of essential support workers at Eastern Health has been met with fierce opposition as employees say they feel “forgotten” and “disposable”.
Patient services assistant (PSA) Greg, who has worked at Eastern Health for 36 years and spoke to Star Mail on the condition of first name only, said he and his colleagues play an important role in the hospital system.
“We worked through Covid. We had to deal with a lot of stressful issues during that time. You just feel forgotten as a PSA,” he said.
“You feel like you’re disposable. You feel like they don’t value you, that they can just toss you aside to a multinational corporation.”
As a non-clinical role, PSAs support nurses and doctors in the day-to-day tasks of caring for patients, whether taking patients to the ward, delivering specimens to pathology or cleaning.
Greg said, despite it being “difficult at times”, he loves his job, “there’s no reason why I wouldn’t”.
“At the end of the day, you have a role to play. You have to look after patients to the best of your ability, and that’s why we’re here,” he said.
It is estimated that 300 to 400 staff could potentially have their role outsourced across Box Hill and Maroondah Hospitals, Yarra Ranges Health in Lilydale, and Blackburn and Healesville Food Services.
Greg was one of dozens to take part in a worker action outside Box Hill Hospital on Tuesday 16 September.
The Health Workers Union (HWU) led the action.
“Our members and the workers across the hospitals want to keep working for Eastern Health. They want to keep working in the public health system,” HWU lead organiser Jake McGuinness said.
“If they move over to this multinational corporation, a labour hire firm, they’re going to see their hard-won conditions go backwards.”
In a statement to Star Mail, an Eastern Health spokesperson said the health service was “proposing a transition to a single, externally contracted model”.
ISS Facility Services Australia, a labour hire firm, is said to be the engaged “provider”.
“It is anticipated that existing employees will receive an offer of employment with the proposed provider,” the spokesperson said.
But workers and the HWU believe a shift to privatisation would bring “less compensation, weaker entitlements, less secure jobs”.
“The main concern for me personally is that we will lose our salary packaging. Nothing’s been given as far as a dollar figure, but apparently, we will be compensated to a certain degree,” Greg said.
“I’ve got maybe five or so more years until retirement, and I’m just wondering if that figure is going to be adequate in terms of compensation.”
Among a raft of issues, like the perceived lack of communication and consultation from Eastern Health, the HWU claimed the announcement to staff was made on 19 August, with no prior warning, and in the midst of an enterprise bargaining period.
The current agreement lapsed on 30 June this year, which had a clause stating “that the parties are committed to preferencing secure employment and reducing labour hire within the Victorian Public Health Sector”.
The HWU states that this move by Eastern Health is in “direct conflict” with this previous principle.
Mr McGuinness said under a labour hire firm, workers are “not able to take industrial action” and would essentially “get an agreement they have no right to take part in”.
Greg said, after speaking with nurses, doctors and clerical staff, who are not directly involved in the dispute, there is general support but also worry.
“They’re supporting us. They’re not happy, particularly the ward clerks, who think they could be next. You start with the PSAs. We’re the low-hanging fruit,” he said.
“The system is under a lot of pressure in regards to its finances and budget. Management is looking for savings everywhere.”
Annual Reports tabled in the Victorian Parliament in November last year, for the 2023-24 financial year, indicated Eastern Health recorded a $100.04 million deficit.
Star Mail posed a question to Eastern Health about this privatisation consideration being financially motivated, but no direct response was given.
“The proposed change is designed to streamline operations and support long-term sustainability,” the Eastern Health spokesperson said, however.
Mr McGuinness said “all (staff) really want is secure employment with money to pay their mortgage and make ends meet”, and so there is a “mixture of anger and sadness”.
Greg and the HWU are calling on the Victorian Government and Eastern Health to halt this outsourcing action, to make a “hard but fair decision” so “bargaining can continue”.
A Victorian Government spokesperson told Star Mail that the government could not intervene if health services were making lawful employment decisions.
“As the employer, this is a decision for the board and management of Eastern Health,” they said.
“There are no planned redundancies as part of the proposal.
“We will continue to work closely with Eastern Health, the Department of Health and stakeholders to ensure proper process is followed”.
Eastern Health said discussions would continue.
“Consultation with staff and industrial partners is underway, and no decisions have been made.”
