Unions have united to slam the NSW Government over its “test and isolate” payments, stating it should be afforded to employees in the Hunter as well.
The $320 remuneration started this week for workers aged 17 and older who have symptoms, need a COVID-19 test and live in LGAs of high concern.
However, that primarily covers Greater Sydney, and not Newcastle and surrounding areas.
And, this needs to be addressed immediately, according to the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) NSW and locally-based Hunter Workers.
“It’s unacceptable that people in and around Newcastle cannot access this vital support,” a AMWU NSW representative said.
“They’re simply not eligible.
“Many workers who’ve done the right thing, with some waiting up to six or seven days for a result, have also missed out on vital shifts at work.”
Hunter Workers took it a step further, by writing directly to NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
“We’ve been fortunate to date at holding the COVID virus at bay,” secretary Leigh Shears said.
“This success is largely due to the work and commitment to each other, across workplaces and our communities.
“We must do all we can to identify flaws in our defence against this community health crisis and ensure they are removed, to enable working communities to focus on the vital work they perform while maintaining the health, safety and wellbeing of them, their families and work colleagues.
“In the Premier’s daily COVID updates, she tells the people of NSW to get a COVID test if you have the mildest of symptoms.
“In the daily press conference, the Chief Medical Officer reminds us that COVID testing is an important tool in our battle with the Delta variant – and that workplaces are significant ‘spreader’ environments.
“Yet, workers across the Newcastle/Hunter region are experiencing excessive wait times for COVID testing results.”
Mr Shears said local employees were required to perform essential work in their respective areas.
“However, they are waiting from five to seven days, in some instances longer, to receive their COVID test results,” he told the Newcastle Weekly.
“On average, the turnaround in our Public Health Sector is 12-48 hours and from the Private Sector 100-150 hours.
“Workers across our region are already experiencing significant time delays to get a test, with many not having an opportunity, in the first instance, to get tested due to shift work and the precarious nature of their employment.
“They are left to cover that cost, either by accessing their accrued entitlements (if they have any left) and, for those under insecure working arrangements, losing pay for the entire period of isolation.
“So, the NSW Government should expand the ‘test and isolate’ support payments to include Newcastle and the Hunter region.”
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