General
New wage cuts rotten to the core
One month after being dealt a bitter 0.3% wage freeze for 2020, thousands of nurses and midwives who have kept public hospitals and health services running across NSW will now face further wage constraints.
NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet has announced the Berejiklian Government will cap annual public sector wages growth at 1.5% in the upcoming NSW Budget, to reportedly save an extra $1.8 billion over three years.
The NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) represents more than 45,000 public sector nurses and midwives who were already reeling from the 0.3% wage freeze, delivered as they continue to tackle COVID-19.
NSWNMA General Secretary, Brett Holmes, said the Treasurer’s decision to cap wages growth at 1.5% and hint actual pay rises could be even less from next year was opportunistic and economically reckless.
“At a time when the Berejiklian Government should be investing in wages and securing the future of our health workforce, they are locking NSW into a low wage, low growth future that will send nurses and midwives interstate,” said Mr Holmes.
“Why wouldn’t a nurse want to flee to Queensland or Victoria where they can work with better pay and legislated nurse-to-patient ratios?
“For the past nine years, public sector workers have received a 2.5% wage increase to spend in their local shops and support local businesses. Now the Berejiklian Government is using the pandemic as an excuse to penalise the very people who have worked through COVID-19 and kept NSW safe.
“Queensland, Victoria and South Australia have all managed to recognise the contribution of their public sector workforces with modest increases, yet the Berejiklian Government refuses to acknowledge their worth in NSW.
“Public sector wages influence private sector wages and when employers in the private sector see no real wage growth occurring around them, they also put the brakes on. The Treasurer is blatantly ignoring this and will force our economy further in a downward spiral – the opposite of what we need to recover.
“It’s a low blow from the Treasurer and Premier who are bullishly determined to prioritise hard-hats and high-vis opportunities over securing the future of our health workforce in NSW.”
Lynette King says
Omg after years of no payrises elsewhere the people that our nurse saved with all the teting and care seem to have meant nothing to the NSW NLP government. Let bring forward jobs that are clearly short term and not full time help NO ONE . The rich get richer and Gladys with her little back handed deals for cash and kiss me I wont say nothings. If the people of Australia Elect another NLP into pwer be it state or federal we are done for. Its just not good enough that through a pandemic billionairs made more billions and the rest of us got shafted and the ones who actually never go on strike because they have the moral convictions of their jobs are our nurses. Gladys and team you are the lowest of the low scum of the earth give yourselves a clap cause thats all you did for nurses. what a piece of shit!!!
Michelle Job says
I find this disappointing and disturbing.
I am RN working in NSW and our pay is poor.
I have worked in Victoria and the pay for nurses is much better.
Especially when you work in general practice nursing as our wages are lower than the hospitals.
No appreciation from NSW government for time and effort nurses, other health professionals put in during this year.
I have no respect for NSW premier at all but yet she can give her co-workers a bonus pay rise and that stinks.
So why do we become nurses and get treated unfairly and disrespectfully.
Victor Borg says
Perhaps it is because they know that you will give all that it takes to get the job done. They know that you will put yourself second to patient needs. This is all they need to keep exploiting both you and our Nursing Colleagues.
Wendy Carter says
They have two stadiums to pay for! We need to get rid of Gladys and her henchmen.
Sandra says
Agree, but we need to be smart and increase out entitlements, eg more sick leave, holidays, facs leave, and long service leave to be able to take partly not in 7 day lots.
We need to think smarted, because they are always going to make excuses about pay rises.
Daniel Mackay says
Nurses are the lowest of the low.
“I’m not just a nurse”
“I am just a lowly nurse that isn’t worth the time to spit on”
Robyn says
Shame on you Gladys!
During this pandemic nurses and other front line workers have put their physical, mental and financial wellbeing on the line.
You pay lip service to us and thank us for our contribution and reward us by cutting our promised wage rise and freezing future wage rises.
You represent everything that is wrong with this country! It is the same old story the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
Why don’t you and your fellow politicians take a pay cut and save the country some money?
Why don’t you increase taxes for the multinational companies who make billions of dollars in profits?
Why don’t you increase taxes for the fat cat billionaires?
You should climb down out of your ivory tower and walk a mile in our shoes.
You wouldn’t last one day as a nurse. You don’t have the compassion and dedication that is needed.
You will never get my vote!
Karen says
Well said Robyn, they sure do stink don’t they! Not an ounce of compassion, especially that mealy-mouthed dishonest Gladys, who should have been fired in the last couple of weeks, she is definitely someone we do not want in power.
Zenia Saldanha says
This calls for active opposition. Union – its time to step up & stand out . Did we loose something to gain the 2.5% agreement in the 1st place?? The future deals should be done with no back window for the government to bail out. It’s shocking how hard we work. Everyday nurses are feeling more & more burnt out . Then we get this! Nothing to look forward to just the sick feeling pf being used. The government has failed us miserably. Shame on Gladys for making NSW hardest working sector to look for other ways to make ends meet.
myrna says
Disgusting Gladys these people have been on the front line since the pandemic Now you treat them like non worthy people by freezing the means of support that they do greatly deserve!!!!!you need to walk in the shoes of these empathetic caring indiffiduals that have been there for our people during these crises or have forgotten ??????????????