Staff fight parking fees

THE Health Services Union took Hunter New England Health Service to the NSW Industrial Relations Commission yesterday over a proposal to increase staff parking fees.

The health service revealed earlier this month it would increase parking fees for visitors at many of its sites in the Hunter and introduce timed parking at John Hunter Hospital from November 6.

Now the service wants to increase car parking fees and introduce timed parking for staff working at the John Hunter Hospital.

It also wants to introduce the same system for staff at its Belmont, Wallsend, Waratah, Maitland and James Fletcher campuses.

Staff at the Belmont, Waratah and Wallsend campuses currently park for free.

Health Services Union representative Bob Hull said the new system would increase the highest rate of parking for staff at John Hunter Hospital by 52 per cent and the lowest rate by 21 per cent.

"Our members should not have to pay more for parking," Mr Hull said.

"There's a dramatic increase associated with it."

The rates are based on pay level and the location of the car park.

Hunter New England Health director of corporate services James Brown said most staff at John Hunter would only have a 50-cent increase in their parking fees per week.

The union and the health service are continuing negotiations over parking and will meet back in the commission on December 10.