NSW nurses push for 5% pay rise

Nurses in New South Wales have rejected a proposed 2.5 per cent pay rise by the State Government and are after a 5 per cent pay rise in a new wage and conditions claim.

The pay rise is part of their union's proposal for a new four-year deal to take effect when the current wages agreement expires on June 30th and includes an extra 3.8 per cent pay rise for nurses with more than seven years experience, an increase in penalty rates for night shifts and a 1 per cent increase in superannuation every year.

The Nurses Association says the Government's offer would mean nurses were lagging behind the rest of the community and would do nothing to help retain senior nurses.

The association's general secretary, Brett Holmes, says their claims will focus on keeping experienced staff in the system and also at attracting new nurses to the profession.

He says a general 5 per cent annual pay rise for all nurses and midwives is a fair and moderate claim which ensures nursing keeps pace with wages growth in other professional and trade sectors.

The nurses union says fair and decent wages and conditions for nurses are necessary if the public health system is to function at the high standard which people are entitled to.

The nurses union says the states 42,000 nurses and midwives make up around 42% of the public health system workforce and are the backbone of the NSW public health system and more needs to be done to attract and retain enough experienced nurses and midwives to care for the growing and ageing NSW population.