The Hodgman regime has tried to restrict the rights of nurses and midwives to better understand the impact of the public sector wage freeze and pending State Budget on their workplace conditions and rights, with management of THO North today initially refusing the ANMF (Tas) permission to hold a members’ meeting at the LGH to discuss these important matters, Greens Health spokesperson, Cassy O’Connor MP said today.
“When the matter became embarrassingly public late today, there was a quick reversal of the decree, but the fact remains that the government sought to restrict the workplace assembly rights of ANMF members for entirely political purposes.”
“The Hodgman Liberal government is no friend of the workers in Tasmania. Cutting public sector wages, not renewing contracts and tabling legislation that directly attacks the rights of workers to peacefully protest are the hallmarks of an oppressive political regime.”
“What advice did the government give to management at the THO North that made them initially refuse the ANMF’s request?”
“What political interference is at play here, and why won’t this government respect workers’ rights at a time that their wages, conditions and democratic rights are under such unprecedented threat?” Ms O’Connor said.