Ramsay Health Care nurses and midwives from Wollongong Private Hospitals have walked off the job for four hours today.
The action comes as they ramp up historic industrial action against the country’s largest private hospital operator, highlighting what they say is an unacceptable pay and conditions offer.
A stop work meeting was held from 7:30am – 11:30am today, at MacCabe Park, Keira Street, Wollongong.
In a statement, from a Ramsay Health Care spokesperson:
“Voting is underway on the final revised Enterprise Agreement for Ramsay nurses and midwives in New South Wales. Our offer of a 12.5% pay increase over 3 years keeps us ahead of the current offer of the NSW public sector. If the majority vote is ‘yes’, nurses and midwives will receive their back pay shortly after and we will be back at the bargaining table in just over one year when we look forward to a more collaborative discussion with the union.
While we respect the decision of our people to undergo protected industrial action, we’re disappointed that this action has now negatively impacted patients, with the stop work activity forcing the cancellation of several patients’ surgeries. Patient safety is our highest priority and we will not undertake procedures without the appropriate staff available. We have communicated directly with impacted patients and will endeavour to have their health care journey back on track as soon as possible.
We want to establish a Workload Governance Framework that is based on evidence to ensure safe, effective and sustainable models of staffing. Implementing ratios is not an option; it will only lead to more private hospital closures across the sector.”
