NSW Labor is refusing to agree to pay medical professionals at the same rates as their counterparts, even after the same people brought us through the pandemic. They have broad support from the public for their pay and conditions claims.
罢丑别听聽(NSWNMA) released a聽 in December, which shows overwhelming support for their pay claim.
NSW Premier Chris Minns and Health Minister Ryan Park have a substandard pay and conditions offer and the table and are refusing to budge, said the NSWNMA.
in marginal electorates by the聽 revealed 70% support for the union鈥檚 聽bid. while NSW Labor has refused to negotiate past聽including super.
The poll revealed 71% of Labor voters, 66% of Coalition voters and 90% of Greens voters back the NSWNMA in their fight to bring NSW into line with other states鈥 pay and conditions for these professionals.
Last November 24聽10,000 nurses and midwives went on聽聽strike. Strikers noted that not only are NSW nurses and midwives the lowest paid, they have the worst conditions.
One Queensland nurse stated: 鈥淲e always had the required staff and staff were not expected to push beyond reasonable workloads 鈥 NSW [is] seriously under-resourced. We don鈥檛 have the equipment we need; we don鈥檛 have access to education and support and we don鈥檛 have the staff.鈥
惭别补苍飞丑颈濒别听聽and allowances.
They also enjoy government cars and parliamentary parking, which makes Minns' decision to聽聽last February, leaving staff liable for thousands of dollars a year in fees, even more unconscionable.聽Minns has no problem with a predominantly female workforce leaving late shift and walking through unsafe areas at night.
No wonder the聽last July found 鈥渢he NSW Health workforce at breaking point鈥.
The HSU鈥檚 report found that more than 86% reported staffing shortages in their departments; 62% said current staffing levels have created safety risks for themselves and their colleagues; more than half reported not having the necessary resources to do their jobs effectively; and a significant portion of health workers were considering leaving, with nearly 60% indicating that the current workplace culture makes them less likely to stay.
Meanwhile, psychiatrists鈥 they have had to hand in their resignations, citing patient safety.
will resign on January 21, unless an agreement can be reached with NSW Health.
The work will fall to GPs. The (RANZCP) NSW&ACT Dr Rebekah Hoffman said although GPs 鈥渁bsolutely have the skills to manage patient mental health problems鈥, the inability reach an agreement will trigger a mental health crisis.
Psychiatrists in NSW are seeking a 25% pay rise over three years with impoved conditions, to catch them up with counterparts in other states.
NSW Labor鈥檚 contingency plan is to contact agencies to recruit private sector medical specialists on temporary contracts at 鈥渃risis rates鈥 鈥 up to 300% higher, plus accommodation and allowances, while calling the public sector workers鈥 pay demands 鈥渦naffordable鈥.