The government has also struggled with industrial action on its rail network. While an agreement with the railway union last week led to the action being reduced to six weeks, there is still no resolution on a new corporate bargaining agreement.
NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association general secretary Brett Holmes said on Sunday the possibility of a second strike was “an expression of the frustration of our members”.
Despite meeting with the state government after last month’s strike, Mr Holmes said the union was still confident the government was prepared to address the concerns.
Mr Holmes said the committee of trade union delegates last week supported a resolution calling on 200 branches to hold a ballot for a 24-hour strike. The union is also seeking an allocation for regional and rural nurses, a PPE allocation and mandatory breaks where full PPE is required.
“We want to see improvements in rural and regional staffing levels and the recognition of qualifications needed to operate in smaller rural facilities,” Mr Holmes said.
“One of the consequences of an inadequate staffing is that we see a lot of nurses and midwives not being given days off in a row. And a PPE permit is recognizing the burden of working in protective equipment.
Mr Hazzard said he was hopeful the union would consider any strike action, with the government in discussions “to find a middle ground”.
Union representatives for state paramedics will return Monday to the Industrial Relations Commission on work bans regarding understaffing for intensive care paramedics.
Across greater Sydney, 84 intensive care paramedics are deployed for each 24-hour shift, usually in pairs and dealing with the most serious emergencies, including heart complications and newborn resuscitation.
The staff shortage last week prompted union paramedics to vote on a range of work bans, including refusing to be taken out of the area to cover gaps.
Health Services Union National President Gerard Hayes said the action is about managing the safe clinical practice of the highest qualified paramedics.
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“If the government thinks ambulances and health will not be a key point in the next election, just look at South Australia. You do not need a crystal ball to work this out,” he said.
Here Hazzard said Herald he was unaware of HSU’s concerns about the intensive care paramedic until he spoke to the union on Sunday afternoon.
“I respect the plea of the HSU and will follow up with the NSW ambulance to get to the ground of what is going on,” he said.
A separate industrial action by the Australian Paramedics Association will also come before the IRC on Monday. The 24-hour action will lead to paramedics refusing to travel from their designated station to plug roster holes elsewhere.
APA NSW President Chris Kastelan said the action action goal would be “routine under resources, without compromising the care of patients or communities.”
An NSW ambulance spokesman said 750 paramedics and control center staff had been recruited in the last four years. In the state budget 2021-22, the government has committed to increase 246 paramedics to the intensive care paramedics.
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