Thousands of nurses have walked off the job for the second time in less than two months to demand better pay and safer working conditions.
More than 20 rallies are taking place across NSW after a six-week standoff with the state government following a strike in February.
Nurses are calling on the government to inxjmtzywcrease nurse-to-patient ratios, improve maternity staffing on every shift and pay an allowance to nurses working in regional hospitals.
It comes after the union reported multiple ‘code yellow’ incidents – indicating an internal staffing emergency – in the past five weeks.
Double shifts, increased overtime, staff vacancies left unfilled for months and daily texts begging staff to pick up extra shifts are among some of the anecdotal evidence offered up by the union.
More than 160 branches of the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association are participating in the 24 hour-strike or work bans.
An order was issued by the Industrial Relations Commission on Friday requesting the union cancel the strike.
But a majority of the union’s branches voted in favour of moving ahead with the industrial actions.
“Nurses and midwives don’t take strike action lightly – but the Perrottet government’s handling of our state’s health system has been utterly inadequate,” the union said in a statement.
The main rally kicked off around 10am drawing crowds outside NSW Parliament House on Macquarie Street in Sydney.
“Despite their pleas for more support from the government, nurses and midwives are extremely fatigued from working double shifts and increased amounts of overtime, because of the growing gaps in staffing rosters,” NSW NMA General Secretary Brett Holmes said.
He said nurses’ demands prioritise patient care and safety by guaranteeing a minimum number of staff each shift.
The union is demanding a 4.75 per cent pay increase.
The NSWNMA met with Premier Dominic Perrottet on February 21 to outline their demands but have not received a response.
Life-preserving services are being maintained in all public hospitals and health services while staff in flood-affected areas will prioritise crisis care over the industrial action.
