The NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association’s (NSWNMA) landmark campaign to improve public sector nurses and midwives’ pay and conditions will culminate in one of the state’s biggest legal cases in decades, as a six week hearing gets underway in the NSW Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) today.
After rejecting the state government’s offer of 9% over three years, the NSWNMA has mounted a comprehensive case for a 35% pay increase over three years to address the needs of the workforce and the healthcare system, as well as improved working conditions including an increase to the sick leave entitlement.
NSWNMA General Secretary, Shaye Candish, said the union had thrown everything at the legal case, after being unable to resolve its pay dispute at the negotiation table.
“It’s disappointing we weren’t able to settle our pay claim out of the courts, after almost two years of campaigning for a decent pay offer for our members,” said Ms Candish.
“We are putting the best possible case forward to deliver public sector nurses and midwives across NSW the recognition, pay, and conditions they rightly deserve.
“Nurses and midwives are highly skilled clinicians, and a wage increase that acknowledges their incredible contribution to keeping communities well, is long overdue.
“In order to boost recruitment and retention and reduce workforce shortages, nurses and midwives must receive a competitive wage that addresses the wage stagnation our members have experienced under the previous Coalition government’s wages policy.”
The NSWNMA’s case details compelling evidence of:
- the gendered undervaluation of nurses and midwives’ work
- the work value increase over the past 16 years
- the impacts of productivity and inflation
- recruitment and retention across the Public Health System.
NSWNMA Assistant General Secretary, Michael Whaites, said after failing to reach a suitable agreement with the state government on improved pay and conditions, it was a case the union was eager to finally see come to fruition.
“The Association’s legal team has compiled more than 17,400 pages of evidence, including statements from a dozen experts and academics and almost 40 witness statements from nurses and midwives,” said Mr Whaites.
“Our evidence sets out work value changes that nurses and midwives have experienced over the last 16 years, including the challenges and complexities of their clinical work.
“We also have expert evidence that demonstrates the current and historic gender-based undervaluation of nursing and midwifery, including the worsening gender pay gap in the public sector, which is at a decade-high.
“We won’t fix the issues in the public health system until we value and respect our nurses and midwives. The government’s offer fails to meet this simple test.
“It’s time nurses and midwives were appropriately remunerated and recognised for the critical and undeniable role they play in the public health system.”
The six week hearing will run until 7 November, with three days reserved for final submissions in December.
Hearings will be live streamed on the IRC’s YouTube channel.
