The workers, including theatre technicians, hospital cleaners, and orderlies from both metropolitan and regional hospitals, are calling for at least 20 per cent pay increase, arguing this would bring their pay into line with other states.

“We’re not asking for the world, we’re not asking for anything that is impossible, what we’re asking for is fair pay for low-paid workers,” Andrew Williams, a long-serving theatre technician at the Lyell McEwin Hospital, said.

“If it wasn’t for my wife working as well, I wouldn’t be able to continue on with this job,” he added.

Demi Pnevmatikos, SA Unions President, said it was “absolutely unacceptable that they continue to be paid 20 per cent less than any other worker doing the same job in any other state or territory”.

“If this state government is serious about their commitment to fix this health crisis to fix ambulance ramping, they will pay these workers a living wage,” he said.

The union has indicated that further industrial action is possible if negotiations remain unresolved. 

“It’s going to come at a cost but the cost is far too great on the people of South Australia if they don’t act now,” Pnevmatikos said.

In a statement to 9News, Treasurer Stephen Mulligan said the government has “put forward a proposal which would see double the wage increases under their previous enterprise agreement, as well as increases for aged care and disability care workers to match their pay rates under federal awards”.