Thousands of public sector nurses in New South Wales (NSW) took part in a statewide strike on Wednesday.
Amid a long-running industrial dispute with the New South Wales government, they hired nurses to cope with overcrowded hospitals and a constant workload due to depleted public health funding and massive staff shortages. and patient ratio. Workers are also demanding higher wages to offset rampant inflation.
The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) campaigned among workers at strike rallies. The SEP is broader, including the role of all official political parties and unions in enforcing the murderous ‘rip it up’ COVID policy that has pushed an already-crippled public health system to breaking point. raised a political issue.
The SEP has warned that the NSWNMA, which has isolated nurses for most of the year, is preparing to impose a sale deal that will not solve anything. It called for them to take matters into their own hands by forming committees and uniting with other sectors of workers in areas such as health and education.
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Victoria, A first grade nursing student nurse, whose mother is also a nurse, told WSWS: They take advantage of us, but we have little experience. This is not safe for us, it is not safe for our patients, it is not safe for anyone.
“COVID has completely exacerbated things,” Victoria said of the end of the mandatory quarantine period for COVID-infected people. This will help hospitals and management not have to pay double rate temporary or temporary staff, and pay less by having full-time employees come back instead of staying at home. . “
The WSWS explained that NSW Labor Party leader Chris Minns is against mandating mandated staffing ratios. “I think it’s terrible. It shows that they really don’t care,” Victoria said.
Commenting on the federal labor government’s recent budget cuts to healthcare, she said: need to do it. I think the budget needs to be reviewed and the priorities need to be sorted out.
“Workers must unite. Nurses, teachers, railroad workers, we are all paid crap. We are all disrespected by the government. I think it’s a great idea, and I think all healthcare workers should team up.”
On the issue of breaking union bureaucracy and nurses setting up their own general committees, Victoria said: But it makes sense to me. What else should I do if I keep getting disappointed by the support system that is supposed to help me? “
rumvisai, A nurse working in a geriatric ward in a liverpool hospital“We are short of staff most of the time. I think we get 5-6 messages every day asking our staff to work overtime.
“Before COVID it was. Then when COVID came it all got worse. Most nurses have left or moved out of Queensland and other states. Skeletal staff left.” I’m here.
“People are being ignored. I went to a shift where I can’t change someone’s bed. They just sit on a dirty bed for four hours. That’s unacceptable.”
WSWS explained the need for a general commission and the need for workers’ solidarity in international struggle. I think the first strikes we got were teachers and ambulance services. We need a united attack where everyone attacks at the same time. i love it
Polea nurse from Yas Regional Hospital attended a rally in Sydney and spoke about an incident in which paramedics were suddenly asked to work due to understaffing. I’ve gotten to the point where there are no nurses working in hospitals due to burnout and fatigue.
“Executives thought the only option was to put paramedics in hospitals and basically ask someone to work completely outside their scope of work.
“It’s a structured process you must go through to be eligible to work as an emergency department nurse. Hospitalized patients were put at risk because of the high levels of hospitalization, and executives decided to do this instead of closing the department.
Regarding the impact of COVID on rural hospitals, Paul said: The workload has tripled for him. Burn out more staff. Things used to be bad, but now they’re even worse. Many of these patients with respiratory symptoms had to receive isolated nursing care. Often it would have required extra staff to do that, but we don’t have that.
“Do you think COVID is over? It’s not a long shot. The government keeps saying it’s over, but it’s not. , dealing with patients who are particularly unwell due to COVID.”
WSWS asked Paul what he thought about the need for workers to act collectively. he replied: why wasn’t it called? Do not know. that’s a question. I think this is just the beginning. Strikes should be continued, preferably combined with other unions. “
in Newcastle Claudia spoke of attacks on Western Australian nurses by the state’s McGowen Labor government and fines against NSW nurses for strikes paid by the NSWNMA without informing its members.
she said: what happened to free speech? The year before last we went on a half day strike and my manager went on strike with us and she got into trouble. If it’s not like a dictatorship, I don’t know what.
“The situation is so bad that people are leaving the handover fist of nurses. Older nurses retire five to ten years earlier than expected. Good luck in ~2 years.
“I joined the union 28 years ago when I started caring. It was known as the weakest union. They’ve been paying my fees for 28 years, basically for free, and we need planning and discussion about what needs to be done.”
HatiaA community nurse who also attended the Newcastle rally said: “I support nurses in Western Australia. I feel sorry for them that they were gagged and that it was a Labor government. I didn’t know that, I didn’t know that the unions here were fined, it’s terrible, we have the right to strike, the fine shouldn’t have been paid .”
Anonymous nurse A woman at Cessnock Hospital in rural New South Wales said she had worked there for eight years. The impact of COVID has been devastating. “We used to have a COVID clinic, but now we don’t. Now we have to do a COVID screening in the emergency department (ED). Cessnock only has 4 private rooms, almost every night someone gets COVID because there aren’t enough rooms, ED has only one so you can’t go to the bathroom so you have to turn the toilet bowl .”
The nurse explained how she had to call the emergency doctor during her shift because she was short staffed. They “could be anywhere,” she said. A resuscitation incident occurred and no one answered the phone for 45 minutes. He was resuscitated by nurses, without a doctor. that’s where we are.
“Labour’s latest budget is unfair. The government does not care or care about us. There has been a long right-wing shift in Australian politics. Wage increases are below the inflation line.” Therefore, there will be no wage increases.”
ElizaMurwillumba Hospital’s union chief said, “The government is not listening to us. We have been on strike for a year trying to get the ratio. I keep telling
Asked about the resurgence of COVID-19 released by the government, Eliza commented: We have to find a room and take care of the patient, but we don’t have the staff to deal with it at the moment. “
When asked if the NSW Labor government could get any better, Eliza replied: I hope so, but it doesn’t look like it at the moment. When told that the Albanian government’s initial budget last month included a $2.4 billion cut in funding for public hospitals over the next four years, she said: It’s not going to cover nurses. It is not intended to cover the care we need to provide to our patients. This hospital is 300 short on staff and hasn’t even opened yet!”
When asked about the prospects of forming a General Committee, Eliza replied: we are kept separately. We should all get together. “
