Fed up nurses and midwives gathered near South East Regional Hospital in Bega to voice their anger against the Berejiklian Government’s public sector wage freeze.
NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) members feel rejected and undervalued by the Berejiklian Government’s decision to offer an insulting 0.3% wage increase, despite previously promising 2.5%.
NSWNMA SERH Branch President, Di Lang, said branch members were livid and irate at the decision and felt compelled to take action.
“Our branch is rallying today to show the Berejiklian Government and local Liberal MP, Andrew Constance, just how angry we are at being told to cop this wage freeze after all we’ve been through protecting and supporting the community,” said Ms Lang.
“We’re incredibly frustrated and think it’s an absolute disgrace.”
NSWNMA SERH Branch Secretary, Nadine Quennell, said the outcome was bitterly disappointing with some nurses now forced to accept an increase of just 7 cents per hour or $2.90 per week.
“How dare the Berejiklian Government slap us with this insulting offer. We have put our lives on the line to keep NSW safe during the pandemic and deserve better than this kind of punishment,” said Ms Quennell.
“The wage freeze is just plain wrong and we won’t take this decision lying down.”