Nurses and midwives rally for better pay and conditions

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Nurses and midwives in Murray Bridge have joined in a statewide strike as they campaign for better pay and conditions.

With South Australia’s health care system straining to meet community needs, about 20 health care workers set up camp on the Swanport Road roundabout last Thursday, waving signs and encouraging drivers to honk their horns.

“Compassion doesn’t pay the bills,” one sign said.

Their T-shirts, featuring three workers in purple scrubs, featured the slogan “respect”.

More nurses and midwives rallied in Adelaide on the same day.

The head of the SA branch of their union, Elizabeth Dabars AM, cheered them on.

“Regional nurses and midwives across South Australia showed up with strength and conviction, making it clear they’re ready to be heard and recognised,” she told Murray Bridge News in a statement.

“Regional areas need stronger support to attract and retain staff.

“Their call for respect, fair pay, and meaningful support is both powerful and deeply warranted."

Nurses and midwives would continue to deliver safe, high-quality care every day while they continued to advocate for a stronger, fairer health system, she said.

The issue was not just about respect for staff, she said, but respect for patients as well.

The state government offered nurses and midwives a 13 per cent pay rise over four years, plus several one-off payments, in its last offer to the union prior to the protest.

However, Associate Professor Dabars said the offer would still mean South Australian staff were being paid less than their counterparts in most other states.

Recognition and career stability were also issues, she said.

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation represents more than 26,000 health workers across the state.

An ANMF petition to the state government has so far attracted more than 15,000 signatures.

• Sign the petition: anmfsa.org.au.