Recent talks between the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) and the NSW Government have failed to reach an outcome on wages.

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The union is calling for a 15 percent pay increase, and has previously knocked back a 10.5 percent pay rise over three years.

Strikes were held in Sydney and in regional centres including Coffs Harbour, Armidale, Broken Hill, Crookwell, Moruya, Lismore, Port Macquarie, Taree and Tweed.

NSWNMA General Secretary Shaye Candish said the union had been forced to take further action after no progress on pay had been made during a four-week intensive negotiation period.

“This strike action isn’t taken lightly, but the government has left us no other choice,” Ms Candish said.

“It cannot continue to underestimate the anger within the nursing and midwifery professions.

“They [nurses] have been holding on for an outcome on better pay, juggling challenging working conditions, trying to manage their bills in a cost-of-living crisis, and now they feel terribly let down.

“Not only is the state government not willing to put any new money on the table to pay nurses and midwives adequately for the work they do, it also doesn’t have a solution to address the interstate pay and gender pay disparities,” Ms Candish said.

Coffs Harbour (NSWNMA) Branch President Amanda Bailey-Derrett told News Of The Area that local union members are “furious the NSW Government has refused to negotiate in good faith and have not budged on increasing our pay offer”.

“All we are asking is pay parity with other states and all they have given us is political spin,” she said.

“They say they can’t afford to give us a pay rise, we say they can’t afford not to.

“Unless NSW Nurses and Midwives are paid the same as in other states, they will continue to leave.

“We simply can’t afford that,” said Ms Bailey-Derrett.

On 30 September, the union accepted an interim three percent pay increase in return for suspending industrial action.

Ahead of Wednesday’s strike, the state government accused the union of backtracking on that deal.

“While the government has acted in good faith in delivering on the interim pay rise, regrettably, the Association has backtracked on their commitment and called a strike,” a spokesman for Health Minister Ryan Park said.

“While I urge the Association not to proceed with this strike, NSW Health has begun contingency planning to mitigate risks to patients and the community.”

Minimal, life-preserving staffing were maintained in all public hospitals and health services during the 24-hour strike.

By Andrea FERRARI