Members of the Labor affiliated Health Services Union will be walking out in a statewide strike on Thursday as its members say 'enough is enough' when it comes to safe working conditions.
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With a great many of NSW's health workers expected to participate, Labor's Deb O'Brien and Yvonne Langenberg were not surprised that Armidale workers could be among them.
A businesswoman and the New England Labor candidate, Mrs Langenberg was a nurse for several decades and knows her way around hospitals and the union members working in them.
"I would hope someone from Armidale hospital is going out because they have serious issues on security in," Ms Langenberg said.
"They do not have enough staff. They do not have a dedicated security officer between 11pm and 6am. It's a wardsman, cleaning person who doubles as a security person who has to look after the hospital and emergency.
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"Another big issue that the security people have here, that I found out about earlier in the year, is that the office for security is in the other building. Normally the security office is right next to the emergency department."
Ms Langenberg said the matter had been brewing for some time, but was a State issue so no statement had been issued by the Opposition. She said labor was supporting the action because the union was affiliated.
Labor Councillor Debra O'Brien said the government's attention was drawn to the problem during the last State Election campaign.
"I have spoken to health workers across the region and they feel unsafe in the workplace," she said.
"Armidale hospital is particularly bad, and people should be able to feel safe in their workplace.
"It's a really important to protect patients, visitors and staff. I don't think they have been on strike for about 20 or 30 years, so it's a big deal."
Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall was contacted for his comments.