On the eve of further industrial action, the NSW nurses union has lashed out at the government’s refusal to meet a one-off 15 per cent pay rise demand, despite the historic wage offer handed to police this week.
Staff with the NSW Nurses & Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) will strike for 24 hours from 6:30am tomorrow, with rallies being held from Lismore to Moruya and right outside of Sydney’s Parliament House.
The planned 24-hour strike was announced last week after both the union and the state government failed to reach an agreement on wages.
NSWNMA general secretary Shaye Candish said hundreds of surgeries are set to be cancelled during the strike with only life-preserving care to remain unaffected.
“It’s disappointing that this is the choice that they’ve been left,” Ms Candish said.
Shaye Candish said hundreds of elective surgeries are set to be cancelled due to the planned industrial action. (Supplied: NSW Nurses and Midwives Association)
‘So beyond frustrated’
Earlier this year, nurses and midwives turned down an offer of a 10.5 per cent pay rise over three years, with industrial action escalating since.
Speaking directly to nurses that sat in the public gallery during question time, NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said he was “disappointed” the industrial action and its “anticipated impacts to patient care” were going ahead.
“Over the course of four weeks of intensive negotiations we have reached agreement on all the [NSWNMA]’s non-wage claims, as well as put forward a range of options to fund and deliver a new increased wage offer.”
NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park said he was “disappointed” the industrial action was going ahead. (AAP: Jane Dempster )
The minister said the association had previously agreed to cease industrial action contingent on the government “paying nurses and midwives an interim increase while work towards a final settlement remains on foot”.
“I am disappointed the association has walked away from this commitment,” Mr Park said.
Since being elected, the Minns Government has closed pay deals with numerous unions, including the Health Services Union, the NSW Teachers Federation and Crown Employees.
But negotiations with the nurses’ union appear to have reached a stalemate and have been ongoing for about eight months.
To rub salt in the wound, NSW Police officers received a massive pay offer of up to 39 per cent over the next four years, at a cost of $697.6 million to the government.
“We have been bleeding police,” NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley said.
This wage increase is set to be funded by reforms to police insurance.
However, the nurse’s union said it had also identified possible areas of saving that would not require slashing vital hospital services.
“We are so beyond frustrated, really our members are so angry that they continue to be undervalued and disrespected by this government,” Ms Candish said.
More time required to address salaries, Minns says
Chris Minns said his government had already met some of the demands made by the union. (ABC News: Ethan Rix)
Premier Chris Minns said his government has already met a number of demands made by the union, including addressing safe staff-to-patient ratios at a cost of $1 billion.
He reiterated that it was the union’s number one priority during negotiations, along with removing the wage cap, which was also done.
“They will say, ‘Well we don’t want to make a choice between ratios and salaries’ — Well, we do have to make that choice,” Mr Minns said.
“The suggestion that the government hasn’t moved, there’s been no genuine negotiations, there’s been no good faith offer is just not borne out by the facts,” he said.
He said progress had been made when it comes to recruitment and retention, but it will take more time to address salaries.
According to the premier, it could take time to address the “10 years of neglect for public health”. (ABC)
“We are dealing with 10 years of neglect for public health in NSW, the Nurses Association would like us to turn that around in 12 months, we’re going to need a little bit longer,” Mr Minns said.
The premier said if they cannot come to an agreement, the independent umpire will have to step in.
The government also remains in a fight with the Rail, Tram, and Bus Union, with members from Sydney Trains and NSW Trains seeking a 32 per cent pay rise over four years.
But threats of a rail shutdown over the weekend have been avoided after the government agreed to run services 24 hours a day between Thursdays and Sundays, while it escalates industrial action.
