A newly formed NSWNMA branch at Healthscope’s Norwest Private Hospital in Bella Vista, Sydney, led the hospital’s first-ever nurses’ strike in November.

About 200 nurses and midwives from Norwest Private and another Healthscope hospital Nepean Private, held a roadside rally to alert the community to their claims of safe staffing and improved conditions.

“We got a great reception from the public, with all the passing cars and trucks beeping their horns in support,” said the Association’s Norwest Private branch secretary Sarah Keevers, who is a theatre nurse.

“It was reassuring to see so many nurses and midwives walk out the door and gather on the side of Old Windsor Road with their placards.

“ There was a real sense of camaraderie between nurses and midwives from the various departments getting together to fight for the same things.”

The NSWNMA’s push for an improved Healthscope enterprise agreement (EA) led to the formation of Norwest Private’s first Association branch in March.

Sarah said the branch resulted in members being better informed about, and more involved in, the EA campaign.

“If we didn’t have a branch, no one would know what was going on, which is what members said about previous EBAs.

“Now that we have a branch, there is a lot more discussion about the issues and far greater support for the industrial action we are taking.”

A LACK OF MANNERS

Formation of the branch has led to the appointment of Association representatives or stewards on most wards. They serve as a point of contact between branch officials (secretary, president, assistant secretary and vice-president) and members in each ward or unit.

Sarah is one of eight rank and file members on the NSWNMA bargaining  team  that  has  held

15 meetings with Healthscope management (at time of writing).

She said members were struck by the poor attitude and lack of manners shown by some management reps during meetings.

“While our reps were talking about our personal experiences on the wards and the importance of ratios, management were doing other work on their computers and answering their phones,” she said.

“ To  have  management  reps completely ignoring the proceedings while a midwife is breaking down in tears telling her story is utterly disrespectful.”

Sarah said Healthscope management conduct improved when Fair Work Commissioner Alana Matheson began attending meetings as a mediator.