St Vincent’s Hospital nurses from the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) will rally this morning in their own off-duty time, after after what they say is a pay deal they were intending to accept was withdrawn at the 11th hour.
The original pay offer was a 4 per cent increase for 2023 and 2.53 per cent backdated to October 2022.
Newly appointed CEO
The NSWNMA says newly appointed CEO of St Vincent’s Lismore, Alan Cooper, made a last-minute decision to take it off the table and offer only a 2.3 per cent increase, backdated to July 2023.
NSWNMA members are deeply disappointed by the hospital’s backflip, and along with community members, will be calling on the board of St Vincent’s Lismore to reinstate the original offer.
NSWNMA General Secretary, Shaye Candish, said the past three years had been gruelling for nurses and midwives in the Northern Rivers following the covid pandemic and floods.
Not unreasonable
‘What our members at St Vincent’s Private Hospital are asking for is not unreasonable. In fact, our hardworking nurses are very deserving of this wage increase,’ said Ms Candish.
‘They show up every day and night to provide patients in Lismore and surrounds with high quality clinical care but their pay is not reflective of this.’
NSWNMA St Vincent’s Private Hospital Lismore branch members will highlight their concerns with community members during the rally and call on the hospital to reconsider its decision.
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