Health workers to strike as union demands pay rise to battle rising cost of living

Health workers in NSW are "sick" of talk from the state government, and want to see their efforts rewarded with a bigger pay rise.

Staff across ambulance, cleaning, allied health, admin, security, catering and wards will go on strike on Thursday, after recent talks with the government failed to deliver.

Under the current NSW wages cap, public sector pay increases cannot exceed 2.5 per cent, but the Health Services Union (HSU) claims that is unacceptable with recent quarterly figures showing inflation running 3.5 per cent.

It argues health employees are working incredibly hard as the system continues to struggle with a larger workload due to COVID, including in places like Tamworth.

Union secretary Gerard Hayes said a public 'thank you' from officials doesn't help pay bills, and it's not fair to expect health workers to keep up large workloads while not receiving a 'genuine' pay rise.

"Health and hospital workers are sick of mealy-mouthed rhetoric. We don't need another politician thanking us for being heroes of the pandemic, we need a pay rise," he said.

"When politicians and managers retreated to air-conditioned zoom meetings, paramedics, ward assistants and security guards exposed themselves to COVID, without a vaccine, and often without masks and protective gear.

"We did our bit for the community. Now as the pandemic subsides, health and hospital workers are being smashed by higher prices and stagnant wages."

Mr Hayes said the issue wasn't restricted to NSW, and that governments across the country need to lift their game.

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"Every time a hospital worker fills up at the bowser they're being stung for more than two dollars a litre," he said.

"Unfortunately, this tightfisted approach spills over to the private sector. If a therapist in a public hospital can't get more than 2.5 per cent, how does someone in an aged care facility doing the same work bargain for higher wages?

"NSW and the nation desperately need higher wages and this needs to start in the NSW health system."

The strike will follow similar industrial action take by nurses last week, who also walked off the job following a pay dispute and complaints over working conditions.

A stop work meeting will take place on Thursday from 10am to midday in regional hospitals including Tamworth, John Hunter, Wollongong, Gosford, Coffs Harbour, Murrumbidgee, Bathurst and Tweed.

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