Health workers at 16 NSW hospitals will walk off the job to protest against an “obscene” increase in parking fees, leaving them thousands of dollars out of pocket.
The Health Services Union said about 1000 members would walk off the job for two hours on Thursday.
Protests will take place from midday at Westmead Hospital, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Concord Hospital, Liverpool Hospital and Campbelltown Hospital and will include psychologists, scientists, theatre technicians, kitchen staff, cleaners, security guards and others.
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The union said some hospitals had proposed parking fee increases of up to 127 per cent but workers needed a fairer deal.
“The great parking gouge must stop,” HSU assistant secretary Lauren Hutchins said.
“With surging cost of living pressures, charging staff $2,600 to park at work is obscene and immoral.
“Health workers across NSW sacrificed their own wellbeing to protect the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a funny way to thank them for their sacrifice.”
During the pandemic, hospital parking was free but, since February, workers with parking permits have been charged up to $27.20 a week.
This costs about $1300 a year if staff park five days a week, 48 weeks a year.
Staff who are still on a waiting list for a permit are being charged up to $11 a day, costing them about $2600 a year, the union said.
Before the pandemic, parking was $12 a week for workers with permits and union members are calling on hospitals to return to this rate.
