Striking for the job they love
The thought of not working with women through the ‘‘beautiful’’ process of childbirth brings tears to midwife Ganesha Rosat’s eyes.
But after 13 years she has been pushed to the point where she doesn’t know if she wants to go back to the job she loves.
Rosat is currently on maternity leave but says the work conditions and low income have got her into a position she never thought she’d be in.
Rosat is one of many midwives nationwide who have been speaking up and striking for two hours a day for the last two weeks in an attempt to get better staffing, income and recognition.
‘‘If it’s not seeming better, I might not go back to work,’’ Rosat, a core midwife at Taranaki Base Hospital, said.
‘‘I love it so much. Seeing a baby being born... it’s the most wonderful thing.’’
Rosat, who is a representative of strike organisers the Midwifery Employee Representation and Advisory Services (Meras), moved to New Zealand from Australia 11 years ago.
‘‘We came to New Zealand for this. We don’t want to go back to get more money.’’
In Australia there’s a midwifery job that’s offering $62 an hour for a short-term contract, but Rosat said some cleaners in hospitals get more money than starting midwives at $23 an hour.
She has had two complicated births herself and so recognises the importance of a midwife from another perspective – they’re there when childbirth gets to its hardest point.
‘‘There’s that hand or that voice nearby that gets you through.
‘‘I know what it’s like to be there.’’
Karen Ferraccioli has been a midwife for 27 years and is getting to a similar point.
She is also a core midwife at Taranaki Base Hospital, and Meras representative, is on call 24/7 and often works 12 hours shifts without a break.
‘‘I don’t think we can do this anymore – we cannot afford it,’’ she said.
‘‘I love my job so much I would never want to leave it.
‘‘But our responsibility is not recognised. It’s painful and sad that nobody cares.’’
The mother of three said the stress levels were very high.
‘‘We are getting emails everyday: ‘who can cover these shifts?’
‘‘We just want women and babies to be safe.
‘‘And to be recognised as the medical professionals we are.’’
The Taranaki District Health Board’s chief operating officer Gillian Campbell acknowledged the importance of its core midwives in an emailed statement.
‘‘We recognise their right to strike and have been working with the Meras union to ensure life preserving services are maintained during the periods of striking.’’