8 June 2025
Lockout leaves hospitals exposed to surgery delays
ETU members locked out by QHealth contractor Getinge will rally tomorrow
Electrical Trades Union members employed by Queensland Health contractor Getinge, will rally outside the multinational’s Queensland headquarters from 7am at 160 Lytton Rd Morningside tomorrow protesting the company’s latest sub standard wage offer.
The highly skilled, specialised workers service QHealth’s sterilising units across the state. ETU deputy state secretary Scott Reichman said the workers were sick of being punching bags for the multinational maintenance company and were committed to sticking it out for the long haul.
“Our members are being told by Getinge that they are worth less than competitors in Queensland and $7 per hour less than their Victorian counterparts, it’s a disgrace, we are seeking pay parity, same job, same pay.” Mr Reichman said.
“The company has used every excuse under the sun to continue to devalue the work our members do, even citing Trump’s tarrifs as a reason to under pay and under value these skilled and vital Queensland workers.”
Mr Reichman said the company’s bloody-minded approach to negotiations and their lockout actions imposed over the last few weeks - after ETU members implemented limited work bans following five months of unproductive bargaining - was leaving hospitals potentially exposed to surgery delays as more equipment is just switched off instead of being repaired and returned to service.”
“Our members have been told if they take limited industrial action they will not be paid at all. This has meant that they have effectively been locked out for most of the past two weeks.”
“The type of work our members do is vital to the safe operations of hospitals, we have already been made aware of breakdowns of sterilising equipment on the Sunshine Coast and other health and hospital services. The company’s refusal to even consider decent pay rises, and instead choosing to lock out these vital workers is jeopardising the safe running of Queensland hospitals.”
“We call on Getinge to lift the lockouts, return to bargaining and deliver fair wages for our members and limit disruption to vital hospital services.”
ENDS
For more information, please call Scott Reichman on 0437 184 399. Or Andrew Irvine 0429 535 860