The voices of the lively, and often dancing, crowd were almost drowned out by a music selection that included Twisted Sister’s We’re Not Gonna Take It and the tooting of horns from passing motorists.
The Health Services Union Albury president Darren Moore said the protesters wanted to make it clear the 167 Albury-Wodonga people who could be affected by privatisation were part of the community.
“We all live and work here and play sport here,” Mr Moore said.
“We may not win this fight but we’re throwing everything at it.
“Our best weapon is the community awareness of a community campaign.”
A decision will be made next month on whether the health service’s cleaning, food preparation, security, warehousing and distribution systems should be privatised.
Mr Moore said hiving off these behind-the-scenes services would also put hygiene and security at risk.
Aimee Vicary works full-time in the Albury hospital cafe.
“We’re anxious, upset and in some ways, a little insulted,” Ms Vicary said.
“We might not have a job at the end of it and we love our jobs. It’s patient care that will suffer in the long run.”
Health Services Union NSW secretary Gerard Hayes said those who served food, wheeled patients and cleaned hospitals made up half the hospital’s staff.
“If it wasn’t for them, doctors and nurses couldn’t get their jobs done,” Mr Hayes said.
Mr Moore said he was confident of smashing the 10,000 signature target for the petition to send to the government.
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