Australia: Nurses and midwives plan to strike across New South Wales State Sept. 24

Members of the New South Wales Nurses & Midwives Association (NSWNMA) plan to hold a 24-hour statewide strike Sept. 24 to demand a 15 percent wage increase. Participating nurses and midwives will begin the action from the morning shift. The work stoppage comes after a 12.5-hour walkout on Sept. 10, where they rallied outside the premier's office in Kogarah. Unless averted, the labor action will likely impact healthcare services at public hospitals and clinics; nurses will continue to provide life-preserving services.

While NSWNMA has yet to announce any demonstrations, gatherings are possible at hospitals, parks, and intersections throughout the state. In central Sydney, protests could still occur at prominent sites in the city, including Sydney Town Hall, Hyde Park, or Parliament House. Violence is unlikely, but police may monitor larger gatherings as a precaution. Localized transport disruptions are possible near rallies, especially in western and northern Sydney, Wollongong, and Newcastle.