NSW Nurses Have Voted To Go On Strike To Address Urgent COVID Concerns

NSW nurses have organised the first strike in nearly a decade in a push for better working conditions during and beyond the pandemic.

The NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association started a motion on Friday, and voted in favour to strike on February 15 when state parliament resumes. The majority of 200 branches will participate in the walkout for up to 24 hours, with skeleton staff remaining on site for urgent medical care.

Nurses are under more strain and pressure than ever under the Omicron variant sweeping through. As of February 8, there have been 1906 new hospital admissions, 132 additional people in intensive care, and 61 more patients requiring ventilators.

“For over a decade, the NSW government has refused to listen or negotiate with nurses and midwives,” an internal statement seen by Junkee read. “The government denies the ever-increasing staffing vacancies, diminishing skill mix, and growing overtime needed to keep services running and keep up with demand.”

“Working conditions have deteriorated as staffing vacancies worsen, the scope of practise has been diluted, admissions have skyrocketed, and untrained staff have been introduced into care models,” they said. “All of this has resulted in inferior care being provided to NSW residents.”

Nurses are calling for Premier Dominic Perrottet to implement safe nurse-to-patient ratios, withdraw an legislation amendment that would force workers to prove they contracted COVID at work in order to be properly compensated, and immediately commit to a fair pay rise.

NSW announced plans last Tuesday to give frontline health workers bonuses of a TBC amount, similar to the Morrison Government’s $800 per person payment in the aged care industry. The NSWNMA said the allowance should be “additional recognition”, and not a bandaid solution to wage stagnation seen over the last two years.

At the start of the pandemic, the Berejiklian Government paused the annual 2.5 percent annual pay rise to all public sector workers, instead opting for a 0.3 percent alternative. The second year of the pandemic saw this rise to 1.5 percent while Perrottet was state Treasurer — a pay loss that the Association says doesn’t recognise or compensate for all the work nurses do.

In the last month alone, NSW nurses have reported forgoing sick days and working while positive to address overwhelming case numbers, extreme burnout and fatigue from working overtime, and fears of a mass exodus in regional areas which would further stretch staff shortages.

“COVID-19 has exposed and emphasised the failings of our hospital system, and highlighted the disrespect shown to nurses and midwives by this government,” said NSWNMA. “When we tell the Premier that we are in crisis, he responds by suggesting ‘our health system is strong, we have capacity, and we can cope’. Well Premier, stop telling us to cope.”

“If the Premier wants a well-staffed, well trained, and resilient nursing and midwifery workforce in the public health system, then he must act now,” they said. “We cannot go back to ‘normal'”.

At least seven rallies will take place the morning of the planned date, including in front of Parliament House, Newcastle, Coffs Harbour, Bega, Bathurst, Lismore, Tamworth, and outside various local MP offices.