THE State Government’s surprise plan to privatise Goulburn Hospital sparked a crisis meeting of Health Services Union members on Wednesday.
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Members met at the hospital as a first step in mobilising community protest against the privatisation. NSW Health Services Union secretary Gerard Hayes addressed them.
The NSW Government announced its privatisation plan for Goulburn Hospital on September 8. HSU NSW Secretary Gerard Hayes said it was not flagged at the State election and has stoked deep anger.
“We met with members today and told them what we don’t know and we don’t know a lot. The union will mount an aggressive campaign to ensure voters in Goulburn are well aware of the corrosive impact of privatisation on patient care,” Mr Hayes said.
"We will not stand idly by and allow the Liberals to hand over community assets to their mates from the big end of town. Hospital privatisations have already been a huge failure at Port Macquarie and Royal North Shore.
“A new private operator needs to find a profit and ultimately, the community will pay. It’s critical that we all band together and fight this terrible proposal. Mike Baird has contempt for those who form the backbone of our public health system and also those who rely upon it.”
Regarding the proposed two-year jobs guarantee for staff, Mr Hayes said employees could be forced into the private sector with in redundancy entitlements.
“Legislation has been put in place about nine weeks ago to pull staff into private sector without any redundancies and then the private sector may or may not require them,” he said.
Mr Hayes said regional areas are already under pressure and are being attacked again.
“Big business making money out of poor communities is morally bankrupt,” he said.