Hunter Public Sector Nurses and Midwives to Strike in Fight for Fair Pay

Public sector nurses and midwives across the Hunter region will halt work for more than 12 hours starting at 7 am TOMORROW (Tuesday 10 September), in a stand for fair pay and better working conditions.

Thousands of NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) members will strike statewide, demanding a 15% one-year pay increase after feeling ignored by the NSW government.

NSWNMA General Secretary, Shaye Candish, said, “The government has failed to negotiate in good faith. Despite presenting a detailed Rapid Business Case, the government has not addressed nurses and midwives’ pay in any of our 10 meetings.”

The Rapid Business Case, developed in partnership with Deloitte, identified opportunities to unlock over $881 million in savings, primarily through better utilisation of Commonwealth funding and reducing costs associated with overtime and agency staffing. The case also showed that NSW nurses and midwives are paid less than their counterparts in other states, exacerbating staff retention issues.

Ms Candish criticised the government’s inaction, saying, “Nurses and midwives shouldn’t have to fund safe staffing ratios in hospitals from their own pay, nor should they forgo a fair wage increase. The government’s promises of gender equity and support for women in the workforce are falling short.”

Government Response

Health Minister Ryan Park responded to the planned strike in a media release issued today. He pointed out that the NSW Industrial Relations Commission had recommended the NSWNMA cease the strike action and that hearings are ongoing to avoid disruptions to patient care.

“There is no doubt this strike action will impact our public health system, from longer waits in emergency rooms to cancelled non-emergency surgeries,” Minister Park said. “Local health districts have plans in place to minimise disruption, but people seeking care should expect delays.”

Minister Park reassured the public that emergency departments will prioritise the most critically ill patients and encouraged those with less urgent conditions to seek alternative care options, such as NSW’s free 24/7 Healthdirect service, virtual consultations, and urgent care services.

He also highlighted the government’s recent investments in the nursing workforce, including:

• Nurse retention levels improving to 93.6% as of 30 June 2024, surpassing pre-COVID levels
• A $572 million investment to save 1,112 unfunded nursing positions
• The rollout of Safe Staffing Levels, with implementation underway in 16 emergency departments across NSW
• An increase in the nursing workforce by over 2,000 FTE since the government took office, bringing the total to over 56,000 FTE
• The removal of the public sector wage cap and a 4.5% wage increase accepted by the majority of NSWNMA members last year

Strike and Impact

Despite these measures, NSWNMA members insist that more needs to be done. The union’s 12-hour strike will maintain minimal staffing to ensure life-preserving care. However, non-emergency surgeries are expected to be postponed, and patients visiting emergency departments for less urgent conditions will likely experience longer wait times.

Ms Candish stressed the importance of the strike, stating, “Without a fair pay rise, the NSW public health system will continue to struggle to retain nurses and midwives, putting patient care at further risk.”

NEWCASTLE RALLY DETAILS:

WHEN: 11 am – 1 pm, Tuesday 10 September
WHAT: Rally with NSWNMA members from the Lower and Upper Hunter
WHERE: Civic Park, King Street, Newcastle