Nursing staff at St Vincent’s Private Hospital in Lismore threaten strike action, slam pay backflip

Nursing staff at a prominent northern NSW hospital have slammed a backflip on a pay increase, which they say was withdrawn in a “devastating” 11th hour decision. Here’s the latest.

NSW Nurses and Midwives Association (NSWNMA) nurses from St Vincent's Private Hospital in Lismore have rallied against a backflip on a promised pay increase, and say strike action is likely. Picture: NSWNMA

Nursing staff from a prominent northern NSW private hospital have slammed a backflip on a pay increase, which was withdrawn in a “devastating” 11th hour decision.

They now warn strike action could occur.

St Vincent’s Private Hospital Lismore nurses from the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) rallied at the Lismore Transit Centre on Monday.

Representatives complain a pay deal workers were eager to accept, approved by former chief executive officer (CEO) Steve Brierley, was withdrawn at the last minute.

According to a statement from NSWNMA, a pay offer of four per cent for 2023 was on the table, along with a back pay of 2.53 per cent to October 2022.

But the offer was withdrawn by current CEO Alan Cooper in October last year, the union states.

Janelle Hospers, an NSWNMA member, clinical nurse specialist and secretary for the St Vincent’s Lismore branch, said nurses at the hospital were “devastated” and “angry”.

The group rallied on Monday in Lismore. Picture: NSWNMA

She said the union had been fighting the decision since October, long after the pay increase was flagged.

“The previous CEO and the board had approved it, so it seems a bit ridiculous to withdraw what was promised,” she said.

“I think what has occurred was not professional at all. It has devastated a lot of nurses on staff.”

Ms Hospers said strike action could happen if negotiations could not be reopened or the original offer reinstated by the CEO and the board.

“There are rumblings that a few of the nurses are ready to quit,” she said.

Ms Hospers said the new Tweed Valley Hospital at Cudgen, opening on May 14, was “appealing” to some of the nurses, who hoped for “better benefits”.

The rally. Picture: NSWNMA

NSWNMA general secretary Shaye Candish said the past three years had been “gruelling for nurses and midwives in the Northern Rivers”, particularly “the Covid pandemic and floods”.

“What our members at St Vincent’s Private Hospital are asking for is not unreasonable. In fact, our hardworking nurses are very deserving of this wage increase,” she said.

“They show up every day and night to provide patients in Lismore and surrounds with high quality clinical care but their pay is not reflective of this.”

Mr Cooper was contacted and declined to comment on behalf of the board.

The pay dispute comes as the Catholic Diocese of Lismore revealed in August it was forging ahead with plans for a new private hospital opposite Lismore Base Hospital.

St Vincent’s hospital on Dalley St, East Lismore would remain in operation, but there’s plans to turn it into an “aged care centre of excellence”, it was reported.