Nurses union strikes for the fourth time this year

A plea to make ‘Thank you’ bonuses for health workers tax-free has been rejected by the Commonwealth, adding salt to the wound for angry nurses protesting working conditions today.

Nurses have slammed the Federal Government’s decision to tax $3000 “Thank you” bonuses but the NSW government and the opposition were also under fire as hundreds of union members walked off the job.

NSW Nurses and Midwives Association have kicked off their fourth strike for the year, descending on Macquarie Street to call for strict nurse-to-patient ratios and more money.

Their strike came a day after The Daily Telegraph revealed that Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers had refused a request from NSW Treasurer Matt Kean for a one-off exemption on the $3000 payment because healthcare workers should be treated like any other employee getting a bonus.

Hayley Sargeson, Talei Williams and Stacey Pattman. Picture: David Swift

Hayley Sargeson, Talei Williams and Stacey Pattman are rehabilitation and palliative care nurses from Bulli and Wollongong and said they were disappointed in the tax decision.

“We got taxed so hard on it. Some people got less than a thousand,” Ms Williams said.

Ms Pattman said she was criticised “in the streets from people for getting money and we got no money at all”.

Colleague Ms Sargeson said losing a chunk of the bonus to tax was “a joke”.

Nurses and Midwives, held their fourth strike today and marched from Hyde Park and along Macquarie Street. Picture: David Swift

The three nurses joined hundreds of their colleagues in front of NSWNMA President O’Bray Smith who told her members to vote for the party that agrees to their demands.

“If the Liberals come out and give us a better deal, we will vote for them,” she said.

“The Greens came out first in full support. Laor has offered us an increase in safe staffing in five different areas.”

Drug and alcohol nurse Annie Smoker came to the protest with her daughter Gracie.

Ms Smoker said after four strikes, the government was still “not listening”.

“The faith is kind of lost … things get promised all the time,” she said.

“It’s sad to think that I don’t need to explain myself today. This is our fourth strike, the public knows why we are hear.”

NURSES TAXED ON ‘THANK YOU’ BONUS AHEAD OF STRIKE

Mr Kean wrote to Mr Chalmers in September after the payments were announced in June.

In a letter seen by the Telegraph, Mr Chalmers said allowing healthcare workers to get their full bonus would set a precedent for other sectors.

NSW Treasurer Matt Kean. Picture: Damian Shaw

Treasurer Jim Chalmers. Picture: Gary Ramage

“I note your request that the $3,000 Appreciation Payment provided to eligible NSW public healthcare workers be afforded a special one-off tax exemption,” Mr Chalmers said in his response.

“As you would be aware, the Appreciation Payment is assessable as taxable income as it is a payment for services rendered, akin to a bonus paid by an employer.”

Mr Kean said it was “extraordinary” of the Commonwealth to describe health heroes as “ordinary workers”.

“It’s disappointing given our governments’ shared recognition of the valiant efforts of our health workers that the Commonwealth has denied this request,” he said.

“They deserve special treatment, and the Commonwealth should have given them this break. We believe that the circumstances of the pandemic warranted a one-off exemption to allow healthcare workers to keep the full benefit of their appreciation payment.

“They deserve a full payment, not a Commonwealth tax bill.”

Nurses and Midwives are striking for 24 hours over pay and staffing levels. Picture: James Gourley

A spokesman for Mr Chalmers said the decision was made to keep the payment consistent with other similar bonuses for frontline workers.

“The NSW Government’s time would be better spent engaging with the legitimate concerns of nurses and midwives over conditions and safe staffing levels,” he said.

“These payments are being treated in the same manner as other similar payments provided to frontline workers during the pandemic.”

Members from the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association will walk off the job for 24 hours on Wednesday and march outside Parliament House.

Labor’s NSW arm has been using support for health workers as their key agenda ahead of the state election.

Originally published as Nurses union strikes for the fourth time this year