South Coast hospitals in the line of fire as nurses continue to strike

Several South Coast facilities will be impacted as they were among 100 hospitals and health facilities across the state where industrial action was taking place this week.

It started with nurses rallying outside Wollongong Hospital and South East Regional Hospital in Bega on Monday, August 26, before continuing with rallies outside Moruya and Milton-Ulladulla Hospitals on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, August 28 there will be rallies outside both Shoalhaven Hospital and Shellharbour Hospital, with nurses at each location stopping work for one hour, 2.30-3.30pm.

NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association general secretary Shaye Candish said the rallies were being held to demand respect from the government and call on the treasurer to pay nurses and midwives what they deserved.

She said there had been no progress on the union's pay claim after more than 10 negotiation meetings with the state government,

Ms Candish said nurses were "fed up".

"Wages for the state's largest female workforce have been suppressed for more than a decade," she said.

"Labor must fix this gender inequity, and show that it respects our nurses and midwives and the work they do caring for our communities.

"NSW nurses and midwives are the lowest paid in the country.

"If the state government wants to rebuild the nursing and midwifery workforce, and is serious about retaining its hardworking and dedicated staff, it must step up and pay nurses and midwives a wage that reflects their incredible contribution," Ms Candish said.

The rallies continue several weeks on industrial action by nurses in public hospitals, private hospitals and aged care.