Thousands of nurses and midwives gathered outside the New South Wales parliament on February 15 as part of state-wide strike action for safe staff to patient ratios. They defied an Industrial Relations Commission order not to strike.
Speakers recounted their stressful work days. They said years of cost cutting had led to unsafe work conditions for staff and patients, and that this had only been made worse during the COVID-19 pandemic. The public system is at breaking point, they said.
Rallies were organised in many regional centres across NSW.
The New South Wales Nurses and Midwives Association is calling for safe nurse-to-patient ratios, a fair pay rise and a COVID-19 allowance.