HSU delegates have endorsed "escalating industrial action" from Monday unless the NSW government presents a concrete pay offer by Friday.
Delegates at the union's conference in Sydney resolved to demand the government provide a pay offer - either in the form of a percentage or a flat increase to base rates - and also clarity on proposed changes to salary packaging.
The exact nature of any industrial action would be decided by members in their local area but may include linen delivery bans and finance processing bans as well as stop work orders and strikes.
The NSW Government has offered a four per cent pay rise to all public sector workers but the HSU has been seeking 6.5 per cent inclusive of 0.5 per cent super.
HSU NSW Secretary Gerard Hayes said: "The delegates have had their say and decided that a four per cent pay increase does not add up when the cost of everyday essentials such as food and rent are soaring well beyond that.
"Our members including hospital cleaners, wards people, therapists and security officers put their lives on the line to keep the community safe during the Covid-19 pandemic. They deserve more than a real-terms pay cut.
"We are prepared to negotiate but the government needs to put an offer on the table for our members to consider.
"Before the election the government promised to stop stealing workers' salary packaging benefits - they need to come good on this and present a concrete and acceptable pathway for when and how this will happen.
"The HSU intends to keep campaigning for a pay rise that recognises the skills and workload of health and hospital workers and the extraordinary cost of living pressures they face."
HSU is seeking a 6.5 per cent increase (inclusive of 0.5 per cent super.) We also want all health workers to get the full benefit of salary packaging. They currently have to hand over half their tax savings to the Government, which can be worth several thousand dollars per year - a significant sum for someone on a modest wage
Inflation is running at 5.6 per cent, rents have surged between 10 and 25 percent, mortgage interest rates have soared
Rock bottom wages are contributing to an attraction and retention crisis. At last count there were 12,000 vacancies in NSW Health. Workers are fleeing to Queensland, ACT and Victoria because the pay is significantly better and housing is cheaper. This hurts the health system and means we lose twice, because all the money spent training the worker is lost
