Paramedics and other health workers have walked off the job at some NSW hospitals, escalating their push for a pay rise.
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Staff in wards, security, cleaning, allied health and administration as well as radiographers and paramedics left at midday on Wednesday at Westmead and Blacktown hospitals to attend stop work meetings.
Staff at Nepean Hospital stopped work from 2pm while those at John Hunter Hospital and Morrisett Hospital walked off the job from 10am, while workers at other hospitals imposed work bans.
The Health Services Union wants a 6.5 per cent wage increase and an end to the government's three per cent public sector wages cap - a key promise of Labor's election campaign.
Union boss Gerard Hayes says he is disappointed with the lack of action on wages from the two-month old Labor government, amid the rising cost of living, saying there has been "a lot of talk and not a lot of action".
Premier Chris Minns dismissed questions from the opposition about the action during question time in parliament on Wednesday, saying they seemed to be asking 'why haven't you fixed our mess already?'"
But opposition health spokesman Matt Kean accused Mr Minns of broken promises, saying the government "was elected on a lie, they made promises which they had no intention of delivering".
The government on Tuesday introduced legislation to freeze the salaries of MPs and executives for two years to enable it to redirect millions of dollars in savings to nurses, paramedics, teachers and other frontline workers.
When asked to clarify whether all the savings would be directed to frontline workers, Mr Minns said he would have more to say in the coming days.
"I would fully anticipate that the savings made will go to boosting and ensuring and retaining essential services workers in the state," he said.
The HSU says real incomes have shrunk as inflation runs at seven per cent, rents have surged between 10 and 25 per cent, and mortgage interest rates have almost tripled.
Stagnant wages were contributing to an attraction and retention crisis in the health sector with 12,000 vacancies in NSW Health.
"Workers are fleeing to Queensland, ACT and Victoria because the pay is significantly better and housing is cheaper," the union said in a statement.
Australian Associated Press
