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Hunter workers continue fight for fair wages

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Newcastle is set to endure some major disruptions this week with several strikes planned in the fight for fair wages.

Employees throughout the region will join tens of thousands of workers across NSW in industrial action following the NSW Budget announcement, which will see widespread cuts in the public sector.

In addition to pay increases lower than the inflation rate, the government failed to address key issues facing personnel such as dangerous staff-to-patient ratios in hospitals and teacher shortages in schools.

Nurses and midwives at John Hunter will attend a stop-work meeting on Tuesday 28 June for four hours, coinciding with similar walkouts across the state.

Then, on Thursday 30 June, local educators are expected to gather at Civic Park from 10am.

There, they’ll unite with 85,000 NSW public and Catholic school teachers striking in response to an insulting 3% pay increase in the budget.

“It is completely unacceptable that any employer, including the state government, expects essential workers to accept such cuts,” Hunter Workers secretary Leigh Shears said.

“Teachers, midwives and nurses are all facing enormous pressures at work and these disappointing pay increases only compound this.

“This budget will worsen worker shortages and prevent more of them from being able to afford to live in the city they work in.

“We should be investing in public sector employees post-COVID-19.

“All of society suffers when we let these workers down.

“NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and his government need to listen to employees now by committing to fair pay increases and addressing other grievances.”

The week of industrial action comes just days after the successful stance taken by RTBU (Rail Tram and Bus Union) Newcastle bus drivers against operator Keolis Downer.

They “downed tools” for 24 hours on Monday after rejecting the company’s offer of a meagre 10.5% pay rise over four years.

On Thursday, the RTBU reached an in-principle agreement with Keolis Downer for a 7% increase over two years.

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