More than 12,000 NSW nurses and midwives took industrial action yesterday in their fight for a 15% pay raise.
The 24-hour strike action was bigger than the last one held in late September with rallies held around the state after failed negotiations between the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) and the state Labor Minns Government.
In Sydney NSWNMA members marched to Parliament House in a sea of blue. Chanting “one, two, three four, we want more in 24” and “Fair – Pay”, the event streamed live on Facebook.
The union had been forced to take action, after no progress on pay had been made during the four-week intensive negotiation period, said NSWNMA General Secretary, Shaye Candish.
“What’s the bigger crime here: us taking strike action, or a government that is refusing to fix the crisis?” she asked
“Our members are extremely frustrated and disheartened. They have been holding on for an outcome on better pay, juggling challenging working conditions, trying to manage their bills in a cost-of-living crisis, and now they feel terribly let down.
“Not only is the state government not willing to put any new money on the table to pay nurses and midwives adequately for the work they do, it also doesn’t have a solution to address the interstate pay and gender pay disparities.”
Nurses and midwives’ placards included “Underpaid and undervalued”; “What about a raise based on merit?” “What is a safe birth worth?”; “Called heroes, treated like zeroes.” “I can earn 18% more in QLD.” “Pay me like one of your police officers.”
“We’re exhausted,” said O’Bray Smith, President of NSWNMA, a nurse and midwife.
“We may be the lowest paid in Australia, we’re going to fight to the end. This government was elected to lead, and it was about time they did that for all residents in NSW to ensure there is a safe health system with enough nurses and midwives to care for their families and future generations.”
While federal Labor had supported aged care and other female-dominated industries including childcare educators, NSW Labor had failed to address the gender pay gap in the state, Ms O’Bray said.
The NSW government has offered police officers a 22.3%-39.4% increase depending on their rank, over four years.
“Other female-dominated workers such as teachers, early childhood educators and aged care workers are being valued and well remunerated by Labor governments. Yet the NSW government is happy to let the gender pay gap grow in NSW, which is now the highest in a decade,” said Ms Candish.
Ms Smith thanked nurses and midwives for the turnout. “This is a long and hard fight and it’s not going to end today.” NSW nurses and midwives have vowed their campaign will continue.
For more information, visit NSWNMA
