By Kim Linden
MELBOURNE — Workers in the La Trobe Valley took united strike action on November 7 against the state government's decimation of health services.
Power station workers, bus drivers, teachers and health staff at both the Moe and Traralgon hospitals went on strike as a warning that they are serious about halting the winding down of health services in the La Trobe Valley. Some local businesses also closed down in solidarity, and there were strong picket lines at both hospitals.
Workers and residents have been fighting the government's attempts to wind down and privatise their hospitals since 1991. The government plans to sell off the public hospitals and build a private hospital — the first fully privately owned and run hospital in the state. One of the possible owners is tipped to be Mayne Nickless, a company in which Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett has shares.
Kevin Taylor, member of the Save Moe Hospital Committee, told 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly that the government has slashed crucial services at the hospital, including intensive care, in the hope of convincing workers and residents that it is not going to back down on its decision to privatise. However, this has only strengthened the resolve of workers at the hospital and in the region, particularly those at the Loy Yang A, Hazelwood and Yallourn power stations, to fight for the hospitals.
Power station workers and coal miners are concerned that closure of services will result in the region not being able to cope with serious accidents at the power stations or mines. All branches of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union went out on strike.
Taylor said, "The workers have given the government two weeks to do something about the hospital services. If the government doesn't back down from closing the services, then power supplies will be cut across the state. The La Trobe Valley workers have their fingers on the switch in terms of forcing the issue."