Psych Nurses Seek Safety

Victoria’s Psychiatric Nurses and Mental Health Professionals are taking industrial action over unsafe staffing levels, claiming mental health services are in "crisis".

Psychiatric nurses and mental health professionals walked off the job this week to consider escalating their industrial action as part of their ongoing campaign for a new agreement with the Bracks government.

Workers believe that their safety, and the safety of people suffering from mental illness, is being jeopardised by a lack of adequate training in the sector.

As well as safety the Psychiatric Nurses and Mental Health Professionals are asking for specialist training, manageable community caseloads and decent career opportunities as well as a wage increase of up to 8%.

Rolling stoppages are expected to affect all of Victoria's mental health services. A range of admission bans, as well as bans on picking up excessive community caseloads, has also been implemented.

Health and Community Services Union (HACSU) members have joined other community groups to lobby the state's politicians to put "Mental Health First" in an effort to win better outcomes for mental health services in Victoria.

"It's time the Bracks government honoured its commitment to Victorians, in particular those suffering from mental illness and their families," says HACSU State Secretary, Lloyd Williams. "I call on Premier Bracks and Health Minister Pike to intervene and show some leadership for one of Victoria's most vulnerable groups. With one in five Victorians experiencing a mental illness, all Victorians deserve peace of mind."

"Our members are asking for no more than the promises the Bracks government gave to Victorians at the last state election. The Bracks government is not delivering on those promises."

"This stoppage is part of a statewide campaign to force the Bracks government to sit up and take notice of the crisis in Victoria's mental health services,"

The mental health workers are expected to vote in favour of upgrading industrial action at a statewide stop work meeting.

Talks over the agreement will also resume in the industrial relations commission this week.

To discuss this and many other interesting OH & S topics visit our discussion boards at http://unionsafe.labor.net.au/shoptalk/

© 2002 UNIONSAFE
This site is sponsored by the Workcover Authority of NSW for Labor Council of NSW

Site designed and engineered by Social Change Online [credits]
This page: http://unionsafe.net.au/news/108380593524992.html
Last modified: Tuesday, 15-Nov-2005 20:37:37 EST