Hospital strike threat

By Lia Bichel
SECURITY staff who threatened to strike during footy finals may also strike from their duties at Casey Hospital.
MSS provide guards who provide crowd control, entry point, ground and player security at the MCG and also provide security at the Casey Hospital. There are currently 12 security guards at the hospital.
LMHU Security Union State Secretary Jess Walsh said a strike by MSS guards could force closures at major defence contractors, universities, government buildings including the Reserve Bank and tax office, financial institutions, oil refineries, and public hospitals, including Casey Hospital.
MSS, Australia’s largest security contractor, pays guards a minimum of $16.12 an hour, Ms Walsh said, and guards were frustrated that after six months of negotiations MSS was refusing them increased pay.
“An MSS security strike would cause major disruption over the city, and put the safety and financial security of millions of Australians at risk,” Ms Walsh said.
“The potential impact of a MSS strike shows how much we depend on private security contractors to ensure our safety. It’s disgusting that these highly-trained, experienced professionals who protect the well-bring of all Victorians should be left to struggle through life on unlivable wages.”
Ms Walsh said providing proper training and paying guards fair wages was the only way to ensure that public safety was not jeopardised.
“Only by providing proper training and rates of pay are we going to attract and retain the skilled, experienced guards we rely on to keep us safe,” Ms Walsh said.
Southern Health spokeswoman Suzana Talevski said Southern Health have not received notification from MSS of any planned industrial action at Casey Hospital.