Wardspersons and food services staff at Canberra Hospital are fed up with increasing work loads, high stress and low wages.
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For the first time in 17 years they have voted to take industrial action that could see work stoppages and campaigns to inform the community about the work they do.
The government offered a 2.5 per cent pay rise over four years but workers want a 3 per cent pay rise over the same period.
There are more than 300 staff at Canberra Hospital affected by the pay negotiations.
Canberra Hospital wardsperson and Health Services Union delegate Shane Archer said the pay rise offered did not give staff a proper living wage or account for the varied and at times dangerous work they did.
He said he struggled to support his young family on the wage despite the demanding nature of the job.
Mr Carter said most wardspersons' base wage was less than $50,000 a year, despite their job involving performing CPR, responding to code blacks and restraining violent and drug-affected patients.
"Most people think all we do is patient transport," he said.
"But we also attend all critical incidents like fires, bomb threats, internal or external disasters, we attend medical emergencies and perform CPR, we do code blacks.
"We deal with a lot of death which takes a big emotional toll on us.
"We are called to restrain patients for their safety and staff safety, they are often drug affected.
"People really do get super strength when they're on ice it's not a lie."
He said staff felt disrespected by management who did not appreciate the work they complete.
Union organiser Sarah Gleeson said 96 per cent of members voted to take the industrial action.
She said the pay offer ignored the fact the staff were part of essential services at the hospital, and came amid a culture of bullying and intimidation from management.
Ms Gleeson said it was once in a generation industrial action that hadn't happened in nearly two decades.
"It's a good feeling that we've finally got to this stage," Mr Archer said.
"Patients are what keeps us in it, we love dealing with the patients we wouldn't be in the job still without them.
"It's a very tolling job physically and mentally."
