Nurses take their demands to the street

The local health professionals continue to support a statewide campaign led by the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association which demands the NSW Government agree to a 15 per cent pay rise.

With a refusal by the government to date, nurses walked off the job in Deniliquin on Tuesday.

And they say further strike action could be pending if an agreeable solution is not reached soon.

The increase requested would bring NSW nurse pay rates into line with those being paid to their colleagues in Victoria and Queensland.

As well as being more reflective of the work NSW nurses provide, it would also limit the loss of NSW-based staff to interstate hospitals where they are afforded better conditions.

Deniliquin NSWNMA branch president Jess Donaldson said NSW nurses have been asking for pay rates to match their interstate colleagues for at least 10 years.

She said the disparity and impact was exacerbated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and has also led to industrial action taken by NSW Ambulance paramedics.

“Staff continue to be forced to do additional admin work and extra shift work outside their job requirements, leading to burnout and understaffing, further fuelling the problems,” Ms Donaldson explained.

Until now, members of the Deniliquin branch have opted not to participate in stop work action, so as not to disrupt patient care.

But they say it’s time to show the NSW Government how serious the problem is.

Those nurses who could participated in the strike action on Tuesday, standing firm on their pay increase stance.

After a one-hour meeting, they marched from the front of Deniliquin Hospital to the Charlotte St and Hardinge St intersection with campaign signs.

There they were met with plenty of supportive noise and honks from the busy main route traffic.

In support of the local strike action, and others taking part across the state, the NSWNMA said it has only come about because the NSW Government “refuses to commit” to what they believe is a fair pay rise.

“They claim they have met our safe staffing demand (legislating more adequate staff to patient ratios), so they can’t address pay,” the association said.

“Securing ratios was a win for community safety, but shouldn’t come at the expense of nurses and midwives.

“High levels of exhaustion and a decade of wage suppression, coupled with rising cost-of-living pressures, have taken a considerable toll on the nursing and midwifery workforce across our state.

“As the largest healthcare workforce, it is essential to look at the investment needed to sustain our nursing and midwifery professions into the future.

“The viability of our health system depends on it.”