Nurses and midwives have kicked off a campaign against foreign-owned Healthscope, launching historic protected industrial action against the country’s second largest private hospital operator.

Hundreds of NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) members will participate in two and three-hour work stoppages this week, as they fight for an improved pay and conditions offer.

NSWNMA members are demanding a 15% one-year increase in line with the union’s public sector pay claim, mandated nurse/midwife to patient ratios across all wards and units, doubling night shift penalty rates from 15% to 30%, and improved leave entitlements.

NSWNMA General Secretary, Shaye Candish, said members voted emphatically in favour of taking a stand against Healthscope.

“More than 77% of members voted in the ballot, and over 95% of those who participated voted ‘Yes’. It’s clear our members are tired and fed up with the pay and conditions at Healthscope,” said Ms Candish.

“How does Healthscope think it is acceptable to pay its NSW nurses and midwives up to 16% less than their colleagues in Queensland-based Healthscope hospitals for the same work?

“Our members have been negotiating with Healthscope for almost six months now with little progress on our pay and conditions claim. Members feel they have no choice but to take industrial action, after being undervalued and receiving inadequate recognition for their incredible contribution to patients and workplaces.”

NSWNMA Northern Beaches Hospital Branch President, Sheridan Brady, said nurses and midwives at Healthscope deserved better.

“Our nurses and midwives are being pushed beyond what is manageable. We have a professional obligation and a moral conviction to give each patient the care they deserve. Sadly, it’s just not an option to give the best care we are capable of without safe staffing ratios,” said Ms Brady.

“We are haemorrhaging staff to the public sector, interstate or completely out of the profession. Poor staffing has led to burnout and fatigue and the daily dilemma of not being able to provide consistent quality care has left us broken. Our buckets are empty.

“We get less annual leave, maternity leave and personal leave than the public sector. Why would any nurse or midwife choose to work for Healthscope?

“The Northern Beaches Hospital is unique. We are a private hospital offering public health services, and this model was implemented by the former state government to replace the Manly and Mona Vale public hospitals. We have been excluded from the Safe Staffing ratios reform promised in the public health system. Our patients deserve the same level of care they would receive at any public hospital.”

NSWNMA members will also consider other forms of industrial action including overtime bans, bans on non-clinical duties such as answering phones and making beds, and refusing changes to rosters.