Allied health workers walk off the job at Victorian public hospitals

Thousands of allied health professionals across Victorian public hospitals have walked off the job for a 24-hour strike, disrupting services in a significant pay dispute with the state government. The industrial action, which began at midnight on Tuesday, involves a wide range of professionals including radiographers, physiotherapists, and speech pathologists.

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We want a wage offer and conditions that the allied health professionals deserve.

The Victorian Allied Health Professionals Association (VAHPA) is demanding a 36.18% wage increase over three years. VAHPA executive officer Andrew Hewat described the government's recent offers as "insulting and disrespectful," emphasizing that allied health workers are a "largely forgotten workforce" falling behind their interstate counterparts. This marks the first time these workers have undertaken a full 24-hour strike.

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At the moment they're just being completely disrespected and the offer that did come through recently, only after we announced we were going to take industrial action, falls far short of the mark.

While the union asserts that urgent care staff will continue working, the strike is expected to cause significant disruptions throughout the day. A spokesperson for the Victorian government stated that negotiations are proceeding in "good faith," but the union maintains that the current offers fall "far short of the mark." Allied health workers are planning a march to state parliament later on Tuesday.

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negotiations between the parties were continuing in good faith.