Ramsay Health Care nurses and midwives will make history when they commence industrial action for the first time in New South Wales today, after rejecting the private hospital operator’s unacceptable pay and conditions offer.
Members of the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) have argued Ramsay’s pay offer would fail to meet cost of living increases and put them well behind their Ramsay colleagues in Queensland. Ramsay has also refused to commit to minimum and enforceable safe staffing.
NSWNMA General Secretary, Shaye Candish, said it was disappointing Ramsay Health Care hadn’t come to the table with a pay and conditions offer that recognised and valued their employees.
“This is the first time our members are taking protected industrial action against Ramsay in NSW, after 81% of Ramsay nurses and midwives rejected their offer. This decision is not being taken lightly, but Ramsay has repeatedly refused to come to the table with an offer that reflects the incredible work of nurses and midwives,” said Ms Candish.
“Industrial action will begin today with members wearing badges and stickers, distributing flyers to patients and visitors, and social media about why they’re taking industrial action. This industrial action could escalate to work bans and stoppages if Ramsay doesn’t budge on its offer.
“Negotiations for a new enterprise agreement began in March last year. Ramsay’s most recent offer of 11% over three years is well below inflation and does not address cost of living pressures.
“It will see Ramsay nurses and midwives in NSW paid up to 14% less than their Queensland counterparts, and members fear they will be paid less than NSW public sector colleagues when their deal is struck.
“Ramsay owns more than 70 hospitals and health facilities across the country. We know they can afford to pay our hardworking nurses and midwives what they’re worth.
“As part of our claim, we want to see shift by shift nurse/midwife-to-patient ratios introduced in all wards and units in Ramsay hospitals. Our members are struggling to keep up with workloads due to staffing shortages. It is not safe for staff or patients, and we urge Ramsay to commit to implementing staffing reforms across its NSW sites.”
The NSWNMA is seeking an 18% increase over three years and improvements to conditions including increases to paid parental and personal leave entitlements, and protection of existing conditions.
NSWNMA St George Private Hospital Branch Secretary Deanna Hayes, who has worked for Ramsay Health Care for 20 years, said she was ready for the fight.
“We are frustrated we have to resort to industrial action to be heard. Ramsay is not listening to us, despite telling them all the reasons why their offer is insufficient,” said Ms Hayes.
“We are losing dedicated clinicians with decades of experience who are choosing to work for other private hospital operators or the public sector where their pay and conditions are better.
“We are doing increasing hours of overtime and regularly miss out on lunch breaks, as a result of staffing shortages. We worry we can’t provide the care our patients deserve under these conditions.
“We feel extremely undervalued and underpaid. Ramsay needs to pay us what we’re worth, or risk losing us.”
NSWNMA officials will continue to negotiate with Ramsay Health Care over the coming weeks in the hope of reaching agreement on the union’s pay and conditions claim.
