Tue Sep 24 03:19:44 UTC 2024: ## Nurses and Midwives Strike in NSW for 15% Pay Rise
Thousands of nurses and midwives in New South Wales (NSW) staged a 24-hour strike on Tuesday, demanding a 15% pay increase to bring their wages in line with other states. The strike, the second in three weeks, saw nurses march from Hyde Park to Parliament House, disrupting traffic in the city’s CBD.
The strike comes after the Nurses and Midwives Association (NMA) rejected a recommendation from the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) for a 3% pay rise with backpay. The union is demanding a one-off 15% raise, arguing that NSW nurses are paid approximately 18% less than their Queensland counterparts.
NMA secretary Shaye Candish highlighted the difficulty in retaining nurses in NSW due to the lower pay. “Nurses and midwives are paid approximately 18 per cent less than nurses in Queensland, which makes it really difficult to keep nurses here in our state,” she said.
The government, however, maintains that it cannot afford the union’s demands, fearing it could trigger similar pay demands from other emergency workers. Health Minister Ryan Park expressed disappointment with the strike, urging nurses to accept the government’s interim wage offer.
The strike has resulted in widespread disruption across the NSW public health system, with extended emergency department wait times and delays to elective surgeries anticipated. While life-preserving staff remain in place, the government urges anyone needing non-urgent treatment to avoid emergency departments and utilize alternative pathways like Healthdirect.
The government’s position and the NMA’s demands remain at loggerheads, with the strike highlighting the growing frustration among nurses and midwives over their pay and working conditions. It remains to be seen whether the government will reconsider its stance on the wage increase and reach a resolution with the union.
First Piper 