The New South Wales Nurses and Midwives Association (NSWNMA) took strike action on February 15, defying the Industrial Relations Commission鈥檚 order to cancel.
More than 5000 nurses and midwives from across the Sydney basin marched to NSW Parliament to hear speakers recount their stressful work days and the unsustainability of the public system even before the pandemic hit and made things worse. Rallies were organised in many regional centres across NSW.
Nurses told the rally about the 鈥渃risis meeting鈥 they had with NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard the day before. He didn鈥檛 seem to understand, they said, showing how out of touch he was. 鈥淗e鈥檚 only listening to the bureaucrats,鈥 another said, adding, 鈥淚 will not be lectured on safe staffing levels by a bureaucrat鈥.
鈥淗azzard and [NSW Premier Dominic] Perrotett鈥檚 鈥榣et it rip鈥 strategy 鈥 putting the economy 鈥榝irst鈥 is wrong,鈥 another said. 鈥淭oo many people have died needlessly as a result.鈥
Others recounted a 鈥渘ormal day鈥 in which they have to leave dying patients on their own; and emergency procedures are put on hold because there were no intensive care unit beds left.
The NSWNMA is demanding safe nurse-to-patient ratios. Not enough staff are being rostered on to each shift, leading to workplace fatigue and dangerous work conditions. International studies show a direct correlation between nurse staffing levels and improved patient outcomes. Victoria and Queensland have made nurse-to-patient ratios law.
The union is demanding the government immediately commit to a fair pay rise, above 2.5%, and introduce a COVID-19 allowance. It also wants the government to withdraw an amendment added to the Workers鈥 Compensation Act in May 2020 that makes it easier for bosses not to pay compensation, forcing workers to prove they contracted COVID-19 at work.
