Today, the Government has moved to impose a 2.25% pay increase with no ratios improvement in a new Award. This is its disrespectful response to your call for a new offer by 30 May.
It has applied to the IRC to make a new Award with the pay increase but no improved ratios. NSWNMA will oppose these unilateral actions.
The Government is hiding behind a bad law of its own making that imposes a cap on wage increases in the public sector and prohibits any improvement in conditions – such as ratios – unless equivalent savings are made from your own existing conditions. The Government’s law and its actions to unilaterally impose a 2.25% wage increase without agreement makes a sham of negotiations and the industrial relations system that has stood NSW in good stead.
This is a move designed to take attention away from the refusal of your claim for safer patient care.
The Association is acting reasonably and responsibly
Our claim for improving patient safety through improved and extended ratios along with a modest increase in wages is responsible and reasonable.
The O’Farrell Government has deemed it unworthy of a reasonable and responsible response.
Nurses and midwives across NSW voted during February to limit your wage claim to 2.5% so that resources could be directed towards improving safe patient care through improved ratios.
The Association remains resolute in its campaign for better ratios
We will continue to advocate on behalf of patients and our members for these improvements through all avenues available to us including the Award process for as long as it takes.
The NSWNMA believes improved and extended ratios are key to improving safe patient care.
The ratios won in our 2011 Award campaign are making a difference.
Barry O’Farrell isn’t listening to you
Our claim for better ratios was formulated after a long period of consultation with members who told us their number one priority was improving and extending ratios in the public health system.
This priority resonates with the public because people recognise that nurses and midwives are at the coalface of our public health system and understand what needs to be done to improve it. The public respects what nurses and midwives have to say about health.
Unfortunately this cannot be said of Barry O’Farrell and his Government. They are not listening to what you have to say. They have flatly said ‘No’ to any extension and improvement in ratios.
Please join your colleagues in actions at MP’s offices tomorrow. See attached details of the Govt’s response.
