❓ Mr. Cook questions the Health Minister about lower wages for nurses at the privately managed Peel Health Campus and the stalled enterprise bargaining agreement. The Minister acknowledges the concern but highlights positive feedback about the hospital's performance and states the government has no influence over wages.
AnsweredQoN 170Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PEEL HEALTH CAMPUS — ENTERPRISE BARGAINING AGREEMENT
I refer to the private management of the Peel Health Campus and the long-term impact of the privatisation of that hospital, where enrolled nurses are paid $3.80 less per hour than their counterparts in public hospitals. (1) Why are nurses and their work so badly undervalued at this hospital? (2) After 17 months, why has the hospital been incapable of concluding enterprise bargaining negotiations with the workers so that their wages might get a little closer to the nurses’ benchmark salary? (3) What does the minister advise the staff to do? (4) Should the hospital not conclude the EBA discussions as a matter of urgency? Dr K.D. HAMES
I refer to the private management of the Peel Health Campus and the long-term impact of the privatisation of that hospital, where enrolled nurses are paid $3.80 less per hour than their counterparts in public hospitals. (1) Why are nurses and their work so badly undervalued at this hospital? (2) After 17 months, why has the hospital been incapable of concluding enterprise bargaining negotiations with the workers so that their wages might get a little closer to the nurses’ benchmark salary? (3) What does the minister advise the staff to do? (4) Should the hospital not conclude the EBA discussions as a matter of urgency? Dr K.D. HAMES
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(4) That is a good question. It is a concern to me that there has been an ongoing problem in sorting out the wages for the staff at that hospital. Having spoken to some of the staff who work there, I know that they are extremely happy working there. They think that it is a great hospital and that it functions very well. I have spoken to people who go to that hospital, and they are extremely happy with the way the hospital is managed. The presentation and performance of the hospital is going fantastically well. It is of concern — Mr R.H. Cook : That is not what people are saying. Dr K.D. HAMES : The member for Kwinana should ask the member for Mandurah. It is of concern that those outcomes have not been resolved. I presume that those nurses’ income must be at such a level that they are willing to keep working, otherwise they would have left. They have it within their power to continue or not. Nonetheless, it is of concern. Obviously the government has no influence over wages paid by that hospital. It is up to those staff to best work out with the management what their wages should be.
(1) Why are nurses and their work so badly undervalued at this hospital? (2) After 17 months, why has the hospital been incapable of concluding enterprise bargaining negotiations with the workers so that their wages might get a little closer to the nurses’ benchmark salary? (3) What does the minister advise the staff to do? (4) Should the hospital not conclude the EBA discussions as a matter of urgency? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(4) That is a good question. It is a concern to me that there has been an ongoing problem in sorting out the wages for the staff at that hospital. Having spoken to some of the staff who work there, I know that they are extremely happy working there. They think that it is a great hospital and that it functions very well. I have spoken to people who go to that hospital, and they are extremely happy with the way the hospital is managed. The presentation and performance of the hospital is going fantastically well. It is of concern — Mr R.H. Cook : That is not what people are saying. Dr K.D. HAMES : The member for Kwinana should ask the member for Mandurah. It is of concern that those outcomes have not been resolved. I presume that those nurses’ income must be at such a level that they are willing to keep working, otherwise they would have left. They have it within their power to continue or not. Nonetheless, it is of concern. Obviously the government has no influence over wages paid by that hospital. It is up to those staff to best work out with the management what their wages should be.
(2) After 17 months, why has the hospital been incapable of concluding enterprise bargaining negotiations with the workers so that their wages might get a little closer to the nurses’ benchmark salary? (3) What does the minister advise the staff to do? (4) Should the hospital not conclude the EBA discussions as a matter of urgency? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(4) That is a good question. It is a concern to me that there has been an ongoing problem in sorting out the wages for the staff at that hospital. Having spoken to some of the staff who work there, I know that they are extremely happy working there. They think that it is a great hospital and that it functions very well. I have spoken to people who go to that hospital, and they are extremely happy with the way the hospital is managed. The presentation and performance of the hospital is going fantastically well. It is of concern — Mr R.H. Cook : That is not what people are saying. Dr K.D. HAMES : The member for Kwinana should ask the member for Mandurah. It is of concern that those outcomes have not been resolved. I presume that those nurses’ income must be at such a level that they are willing to keep working, otherwise they would have left. They have it within their power to continue or not. Nonetheless, it is of concern. Obviously the government has no influence over wages paid by that hospital. It is up to those staff to best work out with the management what their wages should be.
(3) What does the minister advise the staff to do? (4) Should the hospital not conclude the EBA discussions as a matter of urgency? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(4) That is a good question. It is a concern to me that there has been an ongoing problem in sorting out the wages for the staff at that hospital. Having spoken to some of the staff who work there, I know that they are extremely happy working there. They think that it is a great hospital and that it functions very well. I have spoken to people who go to that hospital, and they are extremely happy with the way the hospital is managed. The presentation and performance of the hospital is going fantastically well. It is of concern — Mr R.H. Cook : That is not what people are saying. Dr K.D. HAMES : The member for Kwinana should ask the member for Mandurah. It is of concern that those outcomes have not been resolved. I presume that those nurses’ income must be at such a level that they are willing to keep working, otherwise they would have left. They have it within their power to continue or not. Nonetheless, it is of concern. Obviously the government has no influence over wages paid by that hospital. It is up to those staff to best work out with the management what their wages should be.
(4) Should the hospital not conclude the EBA discussions as a matter of urgency? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(4) That is a good question. It is a concern to me that there has been an ongoing problem in sorting out the wages for the staff at that hospital. Having spoken to some of the staff who work there, I know that they are extremely happy working there. They think that it is a great hospital and that it functions very well. I have spoken to people who go to that hospital, and they are extremely happy with the way the hospital is managed. The presentation and performance of the hospital is going fantastically well. It is of concern — Mr R.H. Cook : That is not what people are saying. Dr K.D. HAMES : The member for Kwinana should ask the member for Mandurah. It is of concern that those outcomes have not been resolved. I presume that those nurses’ income must be at such a level that they are willing to keep working, otherwise they would have left. They have it within their power to continue or not. Nonetheless, it is of concern. Obviously the government has no influence over wages paid by that hospital. It is up to those staff to best work out with the management what their wages should be.
Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(4) That is a good question. It is a concern to me that there has been an ongoing problem in sorting out the wages for the staff at that hospital. Having spoken to some of the staff who work there, I know that they are extremely happy working there. They think that it is a great hospital and that it functions very well. I have spoken to people who go to that hospital, and they are extremely happy with the way the hospital is managed. The presentation and performance of the hospital is going fantastically well. It is of concern — Mr R.H. Cook : That is not what people are saying. Dr K.D. HAMES : The member for Kwinana should ask the member for Mandurah. It is of concern that those outcomes have not been resolved. I presume that those nurses’ income must be at such a level that they are willing to keep working, otherwise they would have left. They have it within their power to continue or not. Nonetheless, it is of concern. Obviously the government has no influence over wages paid by that hospital. It is up to those staff to best work out with the management what their wages should be.
(1)–(4) That is a good question. It is a concern to me that there has been an ongoing problem in sorting out the wages for the staff at that hospital. Having spoken to some of the staff who work there, I know that they are extremely happy working there. They think that it is a great hospital and that it functions very well. I have spoken to people who go to that hospital, and they are extremely happy with the way the hospital is managed. The presentation and performance of the hospital is going fantastically well. It is of concern — Mr R.H. Cook : That is not what people are saying. Dr K.D. HAMES : The member for Kwinana should ask the member for Mandurah. It is of concern that those outcomes have not been resolved. I presume that those nurses’ income must be at such a level that they are willing to keep working, otherwise they would have left. They have it within their power to continue or not. Nonetheless, it is of concern. Obviously the government has no influence over wages paid by that hospital. It is up to those staff to best work out with the management what their wages should be.
Mr R.H. Cook : That is not what people are saying. Dr K.D. HAMES : The member for Kwinana should ask the member for Mandurah. It is of concern that those outcomes have not been resolved. I presume that those nurses’ income must be at such a level that they are willing to keep working, otherwise they would have left. They have it within their power to continue or not. Nonetheless, it is of concern. Obviously the government has no influence over wages paid by that hospital. It is up to those staff to best work out with the management what their wages should be.
Dr K.D. HAMES : The member for Kwinana should ask the member for Mandurah. It is of concern that those outcomes have not been resolved. I presume that those nurses’ income must be at such a level that they are willing to keep working, otherwise they would have left. They have it within their power to continue or not. Nonetheless, it is of concern. Obviously the government has no influence over wages paid by that hospital. It is up to those staff to best work out with the management what their wages should be.
(1) Why are nurses and their work so badly undervalued at this hospital? (2) After 17 months, why has the hospital been incapable of concluding enterprise bargaining negotiations with the workers so that their wages might get a little closer to the nurses’ benchmark salary? (3) What does the minister advise the staff to do? (4) Should the hospital not conclude the EBA discussions as a matter of urgency? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(4) That is a good question. It is a concern to me that there has been an ongoing problem in sorting out the wages for the staff at that hospital. Having spoken to some of the staff who work there, I know that they are extremely happy working there. They think that it is a great hospital and that it functions very well. I have spoken to people who go to that hospital, and they are extremely happy with the way the hospital is managed. The presentation and performance of the hospital is going fantastically well. It is of concern — Mr R.H. Cook : That is not what people are saying. Dr K.D. HAMES : The member for Kwinana should ask the member for Mandurah. It is of concern that those outcomes have not been resolved. I presume that those nurses’ income must be at such a level that they are willing to keep working, otherwise they would have left. They have it within their power to continue or not. Nonetheless, it is of concern. Obviously the government has no influence over wages paid by that hospital. It is up to those staff to best work out with the management what their wages should be.
(2) After 17 months, why has the hospital been incapable of concluding enterprise bargaining negotiations with the workers so that their wages might get a little closer to the nurses’ benchmark salary? (3) What does the minister advise the staff to do? (4) Should the hospital not conclude the EBA discussions as a matter of urgency? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(4) That is a good question. It is a concern to me that there has been an ongoing problem in sorting out the wages for the staff at that hospital. Having spoken to some of the staff who work there, I know that they are extremely happy working there. They think that it is a great hospital and that it functions very well. I have spoken to people who go to that hospital, and they are extremely happy with the way the hospital is managed. The presentation and performance of the hospital is going fantastically well. It is of concern — Mr R.H. Cook : That is not what people are saying. Dr K.D. HAMES : The member for Kwinana should ask the member for Mandurah. It is of concern that those outcomes have not been resolved. I presume that those nurses’ income must be at such a level that they are willing to keep working, otherwise they would have left. They have it within their power to continue or not. Nonetheless, it is of concern. Obviously the government has no influence over wages paid by that hospital. It is up to those staff to best work out with the management what their wages should be.
(3) What does the minister advise the staff to do? (4) Should the hospital not conclude the EBA discussions as a matter of urgency? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(4) That is a good question. It is a concern to me that there has been an ongoing problem in sorting out the wages for the staff at that hospital. Having spoken to some of the staff who work there, I know that they are extremely happy working there. They think that it is a great hospital and that it functions very well. I have spoken to people who go to that hospital, and they are extremely happy with the way the hospital is managed. The presentation and performance of the hospital is going fantastically well. It is of concern — Mr R.H. Cook : That is not what people are saying. Dr K.D. HAMES : The member for Kwinana should ask the member for Mandurah. It is of concern that those outcomes have not been resolved. I presume that those nurses’ income must be at such a level that they are willing to keep working, otherwise they would have left. They have it within their power to continue or not. Nonetheless, it is of concern. Obviously the government has no influence over wages paid by that hospital. It is up to those staff to best work out with the management what their wages should be.
(4) Should the hospital not conclude the EBA discussions as a matter of urgency? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(4) That is a good question. It is a concern to me that there has been an ongoing problem in sorting out the wages for the staff at that hospital. Having spoken to some of the staff who work there, I know that they are extremely happy working there. They think that it is a great hospital and that it functions very well. I have spoken to people who go to that hospital, and they are extremely happy with the way the hospital is managed. The presentation and performance of the hospital is going fantastically well. It is of concern — Mr R.H. Cook : That is not what people are saying. Dr K.D. HAMES : The member for Kwinana should ask the member for Mandurah. It is of concern that those outcomes have not been resolved. I presume that those nurses’ income must be at such a level that they are willing to keep working, otherwise they would have left. They have it within their power to continue or not. Nonetheless, it is of concern. Obviously the government has no influence over wages paid by that hospital. It is up to those staff to best work out with the management what their wages should be.
Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(4) That is a good question. It is a concern to me that there has been an ongoing problem in sorting out the wages for the staff at that hospital. Having spoken to some of the staff who work there, I know that they are extremely happy working there. They think that it is a great hospital and that it functions very well. I have spoken to people who go to that hospital, and they are extremely happy with the way the hospital is managed. The presentation and performance of the hospital is going fantastically well. It is of concern — Mr R.H. Cook : That is not what people are saying. Dr K.D. HAMES : The member for Kwinana should ask the member for Mandurah. It is of concern that those outcomes have not been resolved. I presume that those nurses’ income must be at such a level that they are willing to keep working, otherwise they would have left. They have it within their power to continue or not. Nonetheless, it is of concern. Obviously the government has no influence over wages paid by that hospital. It is up to those staff to best work out with the management what their wages should be.
(1)–(4) That is a good question. It is a concern to me that there has been an ongoing problem in sorting out the wages for the staff at that hospital. Having spoken to some of the staff who work there, I know that they are extremely happy working there. They think that it is a great hospital and that it functions very well. I have spoken to people who go to that hospital, and they are extremely happy with the way the hospital is managed. The presentation and performance of the hospital is going fantastically well. It is of concern — Mr R.H. Cook : That is not what people are saying. Dr K.D. HAMES : The member for Kwinana should ask the member for Mandurah. It is of concern that those outcomes have not been resolved. I presume that those nurses’ income must be at such a level that they are willing to keep working, otherwise they would have left. They have it within their power to continue or not. Nonetheless, it is of concern. Obviously the government has no influence over wages paid by that hospital. It is up to those staff to best work out with the management what their wages should be.
Mr R.H. Cook : That is not what people are saying. Dr K.D. HAMES : The member for Kwinana should ask the member for Mandurah. It is of concern that those outcomes have not been resolved. I presume that those nurses’ income must be at such a level that they are willing to keep working, otherwise they would have left. They have it within their power to continue or not. Nonetheless, it is of concern. Obviously the government has no influence over wages paid by that hospital. It is up to those staff to best work out with the management what their wages should be.
Dr K.D. HAMES : The member for Kwinana should ask the member for Mandurah. It is of concern that those outcomes have not been resolved. I presume that those nurses’ income must be at such a level that they are willing to keep working, otherwise they would have left. They have it within their power to continue or not. Nonetheless, it is of concern. Obviously the government has no influence over wages paid by that hospital. It is up to those staff to best work out with the management what their wages should be.
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