Pandemic-weary Australian nurses go on strike
SYDNEY: Thousands of nurses walked off the job in
Australia's largest city Sydney on Tuesday (Feb 15), protesting against staff
shortages and pandemic-related stresses and strains.
Defying a strike ban, thousands decked in scrubs and
surgical masks marched on the state parliament over what they say are
intolerable conditions.
Throngs of nurses cheered, clapped and chanted their anger
at persistent shortages of hospital beds, equipment and the grinding toll of
this protracted crisis.
They brandished placards that read "Nurses are not
coping" and "'Thank you' doesn't pay the rent" - hitting out at
political leaders who they accuse of ignoring their plight.
For two years, Australia's medical staff have worked under
strict COVID-19 protocols, while trying to carry out day-to-day tasks and roll
out an unprecedented vaccination programme.
But recent months have seen an explosion of coronavirus
cases - bringing more patients and depleting the ranks as staff get sick or are
forced to isolate.
"The community needs to hear the truth - current
staffing levels are inadequate, unsafe and putting patients at risk," said
the New South Wales Nurses and Midwives' Association.
In a statement, the New South Wales Health Department
thanked nurses for working "tirelessly during the two years of the
COVID-19 pandemic".
But, it added, "there are more nurses and midwives in
New South Wales public hospitals than at any other time in history".
Arbitration had failed to head off the strike and the Industrial
Relations Commission court had ordered that the industrial action not take
place.
That order was rejected, and union organisers said further
strike action is being considered.
Strict border closures and aggressive testing and tracing
had meant Australia was COVID-free for much of the pandemic.
But the arrival of Omicron has resulted in tens of thousands of cases and dozens of deaths every day.
About 2.5 million cases have been recorded in the population
of 25 million.
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