Health and Community Services Union (HACSU) members at Launceston General Hospital walked off the job for about 30 minutes on Monday afternoon as industrial action escalated.
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HACSU union delegate and chef Chris Lee said the union was campaigning for "better pay, changing the rules, changing conditions".
Mr Lee called on the Tasmanian government to address staffing and pay issues because LGH staff we "going over and above to look after patients".
"We're fed up with the government not negotiating with us, not coming to the table and having a proper discussion about our wages. We want them to sit down and work it out ... so we can get back to looking after patients," he said.
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Staff were expecting a pay rise in December, but are still negotiating after rejecting a pay rise offer of 2.1 per cent.
HACSU has asked for a pay rise of 3 per cent over three years.
"I don't see that as unfair; it's keeping up with the cost of living," he said.
When asked if the government was negotiating in good faith, Mr Lee said "from what I'm being told, no".
"[The government's] pay rise was 2.5 per cent, and then they offered us 2.1 per cent. That's not good faith. Why aren't they at least giving us what they got?"
Mr Lee said the union was willing to negotiate.
"If the government came to us with a reasonable offer, we will consider it. Over 2.5 per cent, I think is reasonable."
Premier Will Hodgman said union action threatening to disrupt schools, childcare centres, prisons and health services was "completely unacceptable, potentially dangerous and fly in the face of any notion of good faith bargaining".
Mr Hodgman said the government offered last week to meet with union leaders to resolve the dispute on the condition that industrial action cease.
"It is encouraging that a number of unions have accepted the offer and stopped industrial action in the lead up to Thursday's meetings," he said.
"It's time all union leaders showed the same respect for their members, stop the disruption and stunts so that this week's negotiation meeting can take place."
If negotiations stalled again, HACSU said it would increase industrial action.
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Johanna Baker-Dowdell
Johanna has more than 22 years experience as a journalist for newspapers, magazines and online publications.
Johanna has more than 22 years experience as a journalist for newspapers, magazines and online publications.
