'Imagine a future without nurses.'
That's what the Lachlan Health Service Parkes Branch of the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association (NSWNMA) is asking the community to do as they continue to fight for fair pay for our nurses and midwives.
NSWNMA members from Parkes and around the state went on strike for 24 hours on November 13 over the NSW Government’s unwillingness to negotiate a fair and equitable wage deal.
After rallying outside Parkes Hospital for two hours, Parkes Branch president Tracy Boney said they are feeling overworked, disrespected and worthless.
Nurses are calling on the state government "to do better", by tackling the interstate and gender-driven wage disparity that has left NSW nurses and midwives the lowest paid in the country.
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"We want the community to be aware of the fact that we are struggling to keep nurses," Tracy said.
"They are leaving by the hundreds to work in other states.
"Why are we so underpaid?"
NSWNMA General Secretary Shaye Candish said "once again, the NSW government has snubbed nurses and midwives".
“Teachers, paramedics and now police have all received historic, once-in-a-generation pay rises. The decision to give police more than double the offer for nurses, speaks volumes," she said.
"The government cannot continue to ignore the reality that NSW’s healthcare system is crumbling due to severe understaffing and unfair wages.
“Our nurses and midwives are at breaking point and are crying out for help; they can’t work in these conditions any longer. By neglecting nurses, they are neglecting the health and safety of every single person in this state."
Tracy said they were given a three per cent increase.
"Which is something like $1.48 more," she said.
"They don't understand what nurses are dealing with... And we dealt with Covid... It's fallen on deaf ears."
According to the 2024 NSWNMA survey, eight out of 10 nurses and midwives are considering moving interstate in the next five years.
"We're calling on the government and the premier to find the money to pay us properly so we don't lose more," Tracy said.
"Every so many years, and it is years, we get our back up.
"We're sick of hearing 'we can't afford it', NSW will fall even further behind."
Minister for Health and Regional Health Ryan Park 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 remained on foot, in order to shield patient care from impacts arising from industrial action.
"I am disappointed the Association has walked away from this commitment to the Industrial Relations Commission and the community," he said.
But Tracy said they did honour that agreement during the four weeks of negotiations.
"We did do that, for a month, and they didn't come to the table, they didn't want to give us more than three per cent," she said.
"We don't ever take industrial action lightly."
Tracy said Parkes Health Service had life-preserving staffing during the 24-hour strike and the hospital was fully manned.
"We shouldn't have to consider escalating industrial action but the government continues to ignore our pleas for help," she said.
"We always strive for high quality care and we do the best we can, but we can't give the extra care we want to give."
