Delays at NSW hospitals expected at nurses, midwives walk off the job

Thousands of nurses and midwives have travelled from across New South Wales to Sydney's CBD to strike for better pay.

Transcript

00:00The NSW Nurses and Midwives Union has been in a dispute with the State Government over

00:06pay for some time now. This is the second time this month they've taken industrial action.

00:12As you can see there are thousands gathered here in front of State Parliament. They're

00:15asking for a 15% pay increase and have walked off the job for 24 hours. Now the union says

00:21wages should be brought in line with other states like Queensland and that they won't

00:26rule out further industrial action if their offer isn't met. The Industrial Relations

00:31Commission recommended an interim deal to accept an immediate 3% rise with back pay

00:37if they entered into more negotiations with the Government. We heard from Health Minister

00:41Ryan Park a little earlier. He says he's disappointed industrial action was taken today. Take a

00:46listen. People are going to have important surgery cancelled today and that is why I'm

00:51extremely concerned about this action. They are people often with chronic conditions.

00:56They're people who may have been waiting at home in pain for a significant period of time

01:01and that's why. That's why I'm disappointed that this action has taken place. We offered

01:06to make that initial 3% payment, get it back paid, whilst nurses and midwives and the Government

01:13remained at the table over the next month exactly what the Independent Umpire told us

01:18to do. We're prepared to accept the Independent Umpire's decision. The union says life-preserving

01:23staff will remain but there are delays expected during the day. They've also advised people

01:29with non-life-threatening injuries or conditions to avoid the emergency department.