Public sector nurses and midwives held more than 50 rallies statewide in late July in support of a one-year 15 per cent pay rise to fix the staffing crisis in the public health system.

NSWNMA General Secretary Shaye Candish said the pay rise was needed to stem  the  flow  of  nurses and midwives leaving the industry or moving interstate for better pay and conditions.

“To attract and retain experienced nurses and midwives, the NSW government must pay wages that reflect their vital work, and also respect and value the state’s largest female-dominated professions,” she said.

“Nurses and midwives have been underpaid  and  undervalued by successive Coalition state governments for more than a decade, and their wages are sitting at 2008 levels in real terms.

“While male-dominated jobs have seen significant pay increases, our most trusted professions are falling behind.”

REAL WAGES HAVE FALLEN BY 10.5 PER CENT

At Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, more than 200 nurses and midwives gathered in support of our pay claim on July 23. RPA Branch President Katina Skylas said it was becoming increasingly difficult “to keep our colleagues with our current pay and working conditions the way they are”.

“Why are we here? We are here because our public health system is at breaking point.

“Every day, inflation is making it hard just to buy the groceries. Our wages have fallen by more than 10 per cent over the last four years. NSW is lagging behind.

“Our colleagues are changing careers and  changing  states.  They are moving to Queensland and Victoria where their governments recognise their value. In Queensland they are getting $12,000 a year more. They are 18 per cent better off than we are here in NSW.

“We are here to let the state government and Ryan Park know that we are not happy. We demand that you value us.”

CARING PROFESSIONS DESERVE A DECENT WAGE

NSWNMA President O’Bray Smith said there were simply not enough nurses or midwives.

O’Bray pointed out that while male- dominated jobs have seen significant pay increases, the female-dominated caring professions have fallen behind.

“A third-year nurse makes $77,000 per year. Firies earn $90,000 per year, train drivers 110,000.

“We need to get out and fight. The first step is to talk to our peers. Our wages have been suppressed since 2010. We need to send a message to our local MPs that NSW is lagging behind.

“Start talking to your colleagues. Wear badges. Be proud. Keep up the fight.”

NSW GOVERNMENT COULD LEARN FROM THEIR FEDERAL COLLEAGUES

Shaye Candish says the state government could learn from the way the federal government is addressing the gender pay gap and addressing the staffing crises in aged care and childcare.

“The NSW government needs to show it’s serious about gender equity and do the same.

“The longer the government fails to act the worse it is going to get. Now is the time to intervene.