Deniliquin NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association branch secretary Rhonda Dixon said it was a disappointing way to mark what is normally an important day for recognising the role of nurses in our communities.
Ms Dixon said the Association has already vowed to fight the decision, and to get the government to commit to the 2.5 per cent pay increase they fought so hard to get in the first place.
‘‘As far as we knew we were getting a pay rise come July 1, and then on International Nurses Day we’re told otherwise,’’ Ms Dixon said.
‘‘But we won’t be laying back and taking it, that’s for sure.
‘‘We are putting our lives at risk by going to work, especially during this climate.
‘‘We (the Nurses and Midwives’ Association) have already started discussions, and we will be having a series of meetings to plan our attack.
‘‘Our Leeton branch has already taken our concerns to New South Wales Member for Murray Helen Dalton, who has said she would take our concerns to Parliament.’’
Ms Dixon said while nurses will make every effort to avoid striking to get their point across, stop work action was not able to be ruled out at this stage.
‘‘We hope it won’t come to that, especially during this period of great change and uncertainty, but at this stage nothing is off the table,’’ she said.
Nurses and Midwives’ Association general secretary Brett Holmes said it was ‘‘abhorrent’’ to be asking frontline nurses to do more for less, particularly while they risk their lives to protect the community during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Mrs Dalton agrees, and said she will be lobbying for the government to find whatever savings the pay freeze will deliver elsewhere.
‘‘Why does the police commissioner need an $87,000 pay rise while our frontline health workers get none?’’ she asked.
‘‘I think we should instead be slicing the wages of top level bureaucrats, or perhaps pollies like us should be taking a pay freeze instead.
‘‘We have all worked cooperatively with the government during these restrictions, and now they are walking over the top of everyone.
‘‘As a party, the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers will go head to head with the Coalition on this. We will be trying to change (Premier) Gladys Berejiklian’s mind.
‘‘Our nurses put their hearts and souls into caring for us, and they get a pay freeze. Plus their registration fees have increased.
‘‘It is beyond belief that our frontline workers are treated this way, and questions need to be asked about why this is happening.’’
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