Mater Jobs Safe Carr's Pledge On $132m Health Plan
Newcastle Herald
Wednesday March 17, 2004
THE State Government guaranteed about 300 Mater Hospital health workers yesterday that their jobs would be safe even if a controversial plan to redevelop the hospital went ahead.
The jobs of ancillary health workers have been in doubt since the Government announced plans to call for expressions of interest from private companies to redevelop the Newcastle hospital.
Under a public-private partnership proposal, the Government would award a long-term contract worth $132million to the private sector, which would finance the construction and management of non-clinical services. The Government would then repay the provider over 25 years.
Premier Bob Carr told the Health Services Union's annual conference in Sydney that an in-principle agreement had been reached between the Government and the union on a plan that would retain all staff as public-sector employees.
This approach could mean non-clinical or ancillary services would be managed by a private-sector provider but the staff would remain employed
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Premier says Mater Hospital jobs safe
by the Mater Hospital or Hunter Health. A joint consultative committee would continue to meet to discuss progress on the project.
The announcement is a big win for the workers and their union, which has been fighting to prevent job losses.
The Mater workers were supported by health workers from around the state, who held stop-work meetings in October last year.
The union movement generally welcomed yesterday's announcement. However, protests about the public-private redevelopment are expected to continue.
Health Services Union organiser Bob Hull said the announcement was a big win for health workers.
``Our issue from day one has primarily been the issue of job security for our members and ensuring that they continue to get public-sector rates for pay and conditions," he said. ``We will continue to have the debate about the public-private partnership but now it won't be at the expense of our members' jobs."
Newcastle Trades Hall secretary Gary Kennedy said green bans at the hospital would continue despite the Government's jobs guarantee.
``The bricks and mortar are just as important as jobs as far as we are concerned," Mr Kennedy said.
Hunter Health acting chief executive officer Frank Cordingley welcomed the in-principle agreement. ``Hunter Health and the Mater have been involved in the consultation with unions for some months to ensure staff and union concerns are addressed," Mr Cordingley said.
© 2004 Newcastle Herald