A strike could be on the cards for nurses and midwives in the South East.
It comes after they were dealt what another blow when it was announced their southern counterparts in Victoria will get a historic 28.4% pay rise over four years.
It comes after a lack of funds were announced to improve staffing levels at hospitals across the state, in last month’s State Government Budget.
Branch secretary for the Eurobodalla Nurses and Midwives Association, Samantha Buckley told ARN Bega Bay, the 15% one-year increase NSW Nurses are asking for, only equates to a 3.7% pay rise, as they’re owed 11.3% in backpay.
“The fact that the Victorian nurses have won a 28% pay increase is further deflating to the New South Wales nurses when we are haemorrhaging staff over the border due to poor pay and poor conditions,” Ms Buckley said.
“The New South Wales government refused to pay our pay rise, and instead called us hero’s, and invested in themselves,” she said.
“Our pay rise of 15% only equates to a 3.7% pay rise when minimum wage is 3.75%.”
The union, says nurses urgently need a pay rise to stem the numbers leaving the state for better conditions.
But NSW Health Minister, Ryan Park said when the NSW Budget was handed down,, that the government’s not ready to do a deal.
“We’re into those discussions and I think that’s what nurses and midwives would expect.”
“We’re not ready to do a deal with them yet but we know it’s a big issue,
“We’re also rolling out our ratios, our safe staffing model, something that nurses and midwives campaigned very hard for.”
But Ms Buckley from the Eurobodalla Nurses and Midwives Association said it’s not good enough.
“Our staff are tired, we are burnt out, we are working in poor conditions, and the government is closing their eyes and turning their backs on us,” Ms Buckley said.
“We voted in the labour government to help us with ratios, and our pay increase,” she went on.
“Ratios have still not been not been rolled out, our scope of practice has increased, and the government is expecting us to sit on our hands and not fight back. This is not going to happen. There will be industrial action!”
“We will stand up and fight for our 15%. It is the bare minimum they owe us and owe all the nurses and midwives who have worked so hard through this difficult time.”
Images: James Fennessy – ARN Bega Bay, NSW Parliament
