Tense moment ‘exhausted’ nurse confronts NSW premier Chris Minns live on air as pay dispute escalates: ‘It’s not safe anymore’
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has doubled down on an illegal 12-hour nurses’ strike, saying the government has made a “fair offer” to nurses demanding better pay.
The NSW Nurses & Midwives Association (NSWNMA) demanded a 15 percent pay rise over one year, but the state government instead proposed a 10.5 percent increase over three years.
Jane, a nurse from NSW, called 2GB on Tuesday morning to speak to Mr Minns and told him she was ‘exhausted’.
She said that while the action was about money, there were also safety concerns for nurses and patients.
“It’s not safe for nurses or patients anymore. You have to walk through a NSW Health hospital to see that for yourself,” Jane said.
However, Mr Minns said he believed the Government had “made a fair offer to nurses” by offering more than the previous Government.
“I understand it may not be acceptable, but the government has said that if we cannot reach agreement on our offer, the offer that is on the table, we are prepared to accept the decision of the independent arbitrator of the NSW Labor Court,” Mr Minns said.
Mr Minns assured Jane that he had visited hospitals as Premier and to visit loved ones. He stressed that he knew the ‘dedication’ and ‘commitment’ it takes to work as an essential worker in NSW.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has doubled down on an illegal 12-hour nurses’ strike, claiming the government has made a “fair offer” to nurses demanding better pay.
“But I want to say, and this is really important, we have not done nothing. We have worked very closely with the nurses’ association,” Mr. Minns said.
Mr Minns acknowledged that inflation and high interest rates could lead to nurses saying the supply was not good enough.
“But we have said we are prepared to have the matter reviewed by an independent arbitrator,” he said, as Jane interrupted him.
“Inflation is killing us. It’s killing me, it’s killing everyone I know,” she said.
“It’s the most important conversation in every team room. And then they ask us to do more shifts… we’re so exhausted.”
Mr Minns said Jane and other nurses had worked “incredibly hard for the taxpayers of NSW”, but if a 15 per cent annual increase were implemented it would cost $6.5 billion – more than the government spends on the entire police force in a year.
“I respect the work you do, but I have to be honest about our ability to pay,” he said.
The NSWNMA has criticised the government’s proposal. NSWNMA Secretary General Shaye Candish claimed that the government ‘is choosing to pay nurses and midwives the lowest wages in the country’.
“In our 10 negotiating meetings, the government has not sat down at the table to discuss nurses’ and midwives’ salaries once,” said Ms Candish.
The NSW Nurses & Midwives Association (NSWNMA) has demanded a 15 percent pay rise for one year, but the state government has instead proposed a 10.5 percent increase over three years
Mr Minns said Jane and other nurses had ‘worked incredibly hard for the taxpayers of NSW’
‘Nurses and midwives should not have to foot the bill for safe staffing levels in our public hospitals and miss out on a decent pay rise. There is no other workforce that has to pay for its own resources.
‘It is clear that the State Government is choosing to pay nurses and midwives the lowest wages in the country. And if nurses and midwives are not paid enough to stay in NSW, our public health system will fall apart even further.’
It is expected that waiting times at the emergency room will increase due to the strike.
A minimum of life-saving staff will reportedly remain available in public hospitals and health services during the strike, which began at 7am on Tuesday.
A protest also broke out outside Mr Minns’ Kogarah office at 9.30am on Tuesday morning.
The Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) has declared the strike illegal. According to Ryan Park, Minister for Health of New South Wales, the strike could lead to longer waiting times at emergency departments and the cancellation of non-urgent operations.
“The IRC has issued orders to end the strike immediately. Unions have been fighting before this independent industrial tribunal and commission and we hope the association will abide by its orders,” Mr Park said.
‘There is no doubt that such measures will have an impact on our public healthcare system, ranging from longer emergency room wait times to cancelled non-urgent surgeries.’