St John exhibit unhealthy coping strategy
St John exhibit unhealthy coping strategy by ending bargaining
St John are stopping bargaining with Ambulance workers from First Union. This is called avoidance and is an unhealthy coping mechanism.
Using laws brought in
under the current government, St John are using any
mechanisms available to cope in a context of severe
underfunding. They are running at a deficit and have to charge
the public more and are now taking it out on workers. In
desperate times we all can make bad
decisions.
“I think that this is the wrong
approach, it’s like burying your head in the sand… the
problems not going away. Avoidance is not a healthy coping
strategy. As a Nurse I know that when there is a problem you
need to resolve it… it’s like leaving a wound to
fester… avoiding it is not going to make it go away”
says Hamish Hutchinson (Registered Nurse and Health Sector
Workers Network member)
The option to opt-out of bargaining is a mechanism brought in to break union bargaining power. This is an example of anti-worker efforts from an establishment that wants to see the downfall of working people’s right to achieve better conditions. Shame. Workers are the lifeblood of our health system.
St John are doing this because the government
are not funding health services adequately. 70% of funding
for St John Ambulance services comes from the government.
The government could step in to resolve this issue but is
instead sitting passively by watching their legislative
changes making it harder for working people.
Health
Sector Workers Network are calling St John to go back to the
table, sort this out and stop perpetuating unhealthy
behaviours.
Ends