Eight public sector nurses and midwives in Gilgandra held stop-work action today to fight stagnant wage conditions.

The protest was part of broader industrial action in which nurses and midwives across NSW demanded a 15.2 percent pay rise and increased penalty rates for night shifts, comparable to the awards of their counterparts in other states.

Over the course of this week, more than 100 NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association (NSWNMA) members will participate in similar actions to raise awareness for the union's pay claim. 

The NSWNMA says that the wages of nurses and midwives are not keeping pace with inflation and have fallen over 10 percent since 2020. 

The union says the 15.2 percent pay rise consists of a 4.2 percent increase due to anticipated inflation and the remaining 11 percent to restore purchasing power and equally distribute the cumulative national productivity improvements of recent decades. 

"The state government needs to know we are serious and we are fed up. Wages for the state's largest female workforce have been suppressed for more than a decade," NSWNMA General Secretary Shaye Candish said.  “NSW nurses and midwives are the lowest paid in the country."

"Male-dominated industries often get paid a higher wage," Sheree Staggs, NSWNMA Gilgandra District Hospital Branch President said. 

"We've gone to university but we're not getting paid like other people that have university degrees," Ms Staggs said.

Entry-level positions in NSW are renumerated 18 percent less than their counterparts in Queensland. 

"A new graduate makes $12,000 more a year," she said.

"If the state government wants to rebuild the nursing and midwifery workforce, and is serious about retaining its hardworking and dedicated staff, it must step up and pay nurses and midwives a wage that reflects their incredible contribution."

The Gilgandra NSWNMA branch decided against any further industrial action moving forward, but will be holding community engagement sessions at the Gilgandra Country Women's Association (CWA) stall at the local market next month. 

"We don't want to impact the community and that's who would be impacted the most (if further action was taken). We are in a caring profession so we care for our patients.

"We might ramp up industrial action if we feel it's appropriate," Ms Staggs said.