Overview
- Doctors from major public hospitals will stage a four-hour strike on Thursday afternoon, pausing non-critical work between 1.30pm and 5.30pm and gathering outside the Victorian Parliament.
- Unions say doctors are being rostered for up to 84-hour weeks and frequently work longer when emergencies occur, which they say causes exhaustion, burnout and risks to patient safety.
- The unions’ core demands include a 12.5-hour cap on shifts, at least three guaranteed days off every fortnight, paid overtime and, for some members, a proposal for a 30 percent pay rise over four years.
- Negotiations have been stalled for more than 14 months despite more than 60 meetings and turnover of three health ministers, prompting unions to escalate to coordinated statewide action.
- Hospitals say emergency departments will be exempt and staffing will be held above Saturday levels to protect critical care, but non-urgent and elective procedures are expected to be delayed and the dispute could force the government to adopt enforceable rostering rules or other staffing measures.