Illawarra nurses and midwives took to the street on Thursday as part of their fight for fair pay and conditions, and safe nurse-to-patient ratios.
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NSW Nurses and Midwives Association Illawarra representative Katrina Bough said staff held the midday rally outside Shellharbour Hospital after a disappointing start to award negotiations with the NSW government.
"We're insulted by the government's 1.04 per cent pay offer, after taking an insulting 0.3 per cent rise last year during the pandemic," she said.
"We're also appalled by their rejection of calls for shift-by-shift ratios, which would have ensured safer patient care at every public hospital across the state.
"We can only work under-resourced for so long, and we will continue to fight for better pay and conditions, and ratios, so we can look after our community better."
Mrs Bough said NSW was lagging behind other states: "Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and the ACT all have mandated shift-by-shift ratios, and rewarded nurses with reasonable pay rises during the pandemic".
"Nurses and midwives were getting plenty of platitudes as 'heroes' on the frontline of the pandemic - but that doesn't pay the rent or mortgage," she added.
NSWNMA general secretary Brett Holmes said the union was discussing the offer with members, but initial reactions were scathing of it and the NSW government.
"After everything they have done, shift after shift, this is not the way to treat health professionals who have given their all, tackling a global health pandemic over the past year and assisting with the current vaccination rollout," he said.
"Our members were bitterly disappointed by last year's 0.3 per cent wage freeze. To now put a pitiful 1.04 per cent increase on the table and completely ignore any improvements to patient safety or provide better protection for nurses and midwives while at work is demoralising.
"Seeking safe staffing, safer personal protective equipment and a fair pay rise is hardly excessive.
"The NSW public health system is bursting at the seams, with increasing pressures being loaded onto health workers each year. It's appalling the Ministry of Health believes nothing needs to change."
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