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NPAQ members at Mater are being dudded by Santa Steer.
While a concessional day is being granted to many staff at Mater facilities across Queensland, is not being granted to shift workers, who under their employment agreement receive six weeks’ leave per annum. “These healthcare heroes work day and night in areas that remain operational during the Christmas period, so it is pretty mean spirited of the Mater given what the last few years of COVID have put us through,” NPAQ President Marg Gilbert said.
One leave day or a bonus of a day’s pay over the Christmas break would mean a lot to a shift worker, who is scratching to buy presents or who would like the time to enjoy with family and time to celebrate Christmas together. After all, the shift workers did the heavy lifting during COVID. The workers should be able to choose which they get as a reward.
Mater Chief Executive Peter Steer has announced a concessional day off on December 28 for other staff for their ‘dedicated service throughout the year’, with the exception of shift workers who do get an extra weeks’ annual leave.
“After such exceptional service, under such trying conditions and at personal risk to themselves. Shift workers have gone above and beyond the call of duty, they deserve better,” Marg Gilbert added.
This year is the first time that a concessional day has been granted at Christmas to employees at every Mater facility in Queensland and it should be a time to reward shift workers as well.
NPAQ calls on Mater Chief Executive Peter Steer to give shift workers a fair go, so our hard-working nurses can enjoy that little bit of extra time with family.