HACSU, ANMF and delegates spent two days last week workshopping with Healthscope’s team to try and get closer to an outcome for your new agreement.

New general manager Andrew Farr gave us an hour-long spiel of the sort we get when employers try and justify a poor wage offer – yet they made $67m last year, although he didn’t say this.

We know a business must make money to be viable, but the memo they sent last week saying the cost of living in Tasmania is lower than on the mainland is wrong.

That claim relates to housing mortgage costs, but Tasmanian rents have increased by an average $5000 a year for the past 2 years and daily costs regularly exceed mainland comparisons.

Our approach has been to address workload problems, with the wage offer as a separate issue.

Wages are important for attracting and retaining staff, but you’ve told us many times it’s not your primary concern, although HPH is a very profitable hospital, and we think it’ll remain so.

We’ve asked for a transparent view of how rosters are established and what the minimum staffing numbers are on a ward/unit/shift basis - they have various reasons why they can’t tell us, and none are acceptable.

If you attended their briefing on Tuesday and have any feedback, please contact me by emailing assist@hacsu.org.auor phoning 1300 880 032

We meet with Healthscope again tomorrow.