Nurses and midwives at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney’s inner west have condemned plans by car park operators to increase staff parking fees at the campus.
From next Monday (2 November), up to 2000 staff will be slugged $5 a day if they wish to continue using in the multi-storey car park and on-grade (gravel pit) parking at the Camperdown site.
Brett Holmes, General Secretary of the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA), said local nurses and midwives were alarmed by the price hike, which appears to be in breach of NSW Health policy.
“Understandably, our members are upset they received less than two weeks notice that this price increase is going to occur next week and for no justifiable reason,” Mr Holmes said.
“Sydney Local Health District has leased these two car parks from Macquarie International Health Clinic for the past 19 years. Now, Dr Thomas Wenkart wants to take back operation of the two car parks on site and slug hardworking RPA staff with additional fees.
“There’s no change in service delivery or operation of either car park – just a massive price hike well above the CPI for Sydney.
“Currently, a full time employee is charged $25.75 per fortnight to park at RPA. This new increase to be imposed by Macquarie International Health Clinic would raise the same employee’s car parking fees to $50 per fortnight.
“According to NSW Health Hospital Car Parking Fees Policy, parking fees are only supposed to be adjusted annually in line with inflation,” Mr Holmes said.
The same policy also states:
There will be no change to present car park fee arrangements for campuses within the metropolitan Local Health Districts / Specialty Networks which are not the subject of car parking development.
Today, more than 80 members of the NSWNMA’s Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Branch passed two unanimous resolutions to reject the car parking price hike and call on Sydney Local Health District management to develop a detailed plan regarding alternate safe car parking options for staff.
The NSWNMA is continuing to support members and will meet with the Branch again on Friday to discuss their concerns and any correspondence from Sydney Local Health District management.
Download this media release: Car park price hike to hit RPA nurses & midwives
