Nurses Secure Pay Increases in Australia, Ontario Amid Staffing Disputes, Strikes Loom in New Zealand

Public sector nurses and midwives in New South Wales have approved an interim 3 per cent pay increase, effective from July 2025, along with improvements to night shift penalties and working conditions as part of efforts to rebuild the health workforce after years of wage suppression. Meanwhile, Ontario hospital nurses were awarded a 5.25 per cent pay increase over two years following arbitration, but the Ontario Nurses’ Association expressed disappointment that the deal did not include mandated minimum staffing ratios, which they argue are crucial for safety. The union is reviewing the decision and considering further action, highlighting ongoing concerns about nurse and patient safety. In New Zealand, over 36,000 nurses, midwives, and healthcare assistants are striking again to demand better pay and staffing, with calls for a 15 per cent pay rise and improved working conditions, including proposals for a four-day workweek and subsidized accommodations to retain public service workers. These developments reflect global challenges in healthcare staffing, wages, and working conditions, with unions emphasizing the need for better respect and support for frontline healthcare workers amid ongoing workforce shortages. Governments and unions continue to negotiate amid growing pressure to enhance healthcare sustainability and worker welfare.