Nurses in Auckland protested outside Minister of Health Simeon Brown's electorate office in Pakūranga.
They are demanding better pay and working conditions. Video / Dean Purcell
A nurse on a protest walk through Hastings’ CBD on Tuesday says she can barely afford the childcare she needs to keep her job.
About 50 nurses and their supporters walked from Hawke’s Bay Hospital to the Clock Tower as part of a national strike callingfor “better pay, safer staffing, and more support for new graduates”.
Health Minister Simeon Brown says nurses are already well paid with an average annual salary of more than $125,000 including allowances.
He said strikes would add to delays for thousands of patients.
A Hastings nurse for 12 years, Jilu Joy has three children and said her income barely covered her childcare costs.
“I’ve had patients waiting for hip replacements for over a year and they deteriorate their health, and they come for the second hip because they put more pressure on the other side. They get sicker and sicker.”
Hawke's Bay Hospital nurse Jilu Joy says her pay barely covers childcare. Photo / Rafaella Melo
Graduate nurse Andrew Miller said new nurses face unpaid transition work and were offered only part-time positions.
“New grads are being dropped down to 0.6 FTE. They’ve already worked hundreds of hours of labour unpaid, and then have to go on part-time,” he said.
Miller said better opportunities overseas are driving workers away.
“My sister is a nurse as well and she went to Australia. Within 10 months she’s earning more than I am ... and I think, ‘what am I doing here? What’s the point?’ Honestly, we deserve more respect.”
New graduate nurse Andrew Miller joined the strike calling for fairer conditions for those starting their careers. Photo / Rafaella Melo
Emergency nurse practitioner Sue Revell, who has more than 30 years’ experience, said the demands were “clear and urgent”.
“Safe staffing levels, a cost-of-living pay rise, and full employment of new graduate nurses,” she said.
“These are not luxuries. They are the foundations of a safe, effective and respected health system.”
