Nurses at the North West Private Hospital in Burnie have walked off the job for one hour as part of a long-running dispute with their employer over working conditions and fair wages.
This industrial action follows months of unsuccessful negotiations between the Health and Community Services Union (HACSU) and Healthe Care.
HACSU State Secretary Robbie Moore said nurses are “working tirelessly” to provide quality care to patients, but insufficient staffing levels and excessive workloads are taking a toll on their mental and physical health.
“They are being overworked, leading to burnout and potentially compromised patient safety,” he said.
“These nurses … know that safer staffing levels result in safer care for patients.”
Moore said nurses at the hospital are also paid less than their counterparts on the mainland and, in some cases, even their counterparts within the public sector.
“It’s time for Healthe Care to come back to the table to negotiate in good faith and provide a decent offer that improves working conditions and fair wages,” he said.
The nurses have warned that they are prepared to escalate action if Healthe Care does not agree to a resolution that will ultimately benefit both staff and patients through improved working conditions and fair wages.
