The government struck a truce with the nurses union after months of wage negotiations and strikes.

Advertise with News of The Area today.
It’s worth it for your business.
Message us.
Phone us – (02) 4981 8882.
Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au

Health Minister Ryan Park said the Nurses and Midwives Association accepted the recommendation of the Industrial Relations Commission on Monday to stop all planned strikes while negotiations continued.

“No industrial action affecting patients will take place while the discussions and/or arbitration is progressing,” he said.

“We look forward to these discussions and ongoing negotiations with the Association.”

Under the agreement the government has committed to an interim three per cent pay increase, less than a quarter of the 15 percent the union was demanding.

Union acting general secretary, Michael Whaites, said members had voted to accept the IRC recommendation for a four week period.

“We are committed to pursuing the best possible pay and conditions outcome for our members, including things like 30 percent night shift penalty, to bring us into line with other states,” he said in a statement.

“As a show of our good faith from the government, public sector nurses and midwives will receive an interim three percent wage increase, backdated to 1 July 2024.”

The union looked forward to robust and productive discussions with the government, Mr Whaites said.

In the largest rally against the Labor government since coming to power in March 2023, at least 5000 nurses and midwives took to the streets on Tuesday over wage negotiations.

The 24-hour stop-work action by nurses and midwives affected 454 elective surgeries and temporarily closed 81 beds, according to NSW Health.

All NSW public sector workers, including nurses, have been offered a three-year, 10.5 percent pay increase factoring in a mandatory rise in superannuation payments.

By Neve BRISSENDEN, AAP