Nurses at the Calvary Mater hospital are angry and upset at not receiving promised back pay from the NSW government.
The nurses have already endured more than a year of stress over the hospital's mould and maintenance scandal.
The back pay, which would be about $5500 to $7500 before tax depending on grades, would give the nurses a much-needed boost.
Nurses and midwives at other public hospitals were paid the back pay a few weeks ago.
"Mater nurses are still waiting," one Mater nurse told the Newcastle Herald.
"We were extremely disappointed and frustrated to learn, at the last minute, that this payment had been delayed."
The delay occurred despite assurances that the money would be paid on Monday this week.
"Many staff have been relying on this payment and made financial commitments based on the information provided by their employer," the nurse said.
Another Mater nurse said staff were "deeply affected" by the delay.
"It makes us feel like we aren't valued. We need the public to know and stand up for us workers at the Mater," the nurse said.
"We've endured poor working conditions, including mould, water issues, poor staffing levels and now this delayed pay. This is unacceptable."
Mater nurses are paid under an enterprise agreement, while nurses at public hospitals are paid under a state award.
The Mater operates under a public-private partnership (PPP) between Novacare and NSW Health's Health Administration Corporation, which closely involves Hunter New England Health.
The failure of the PPP has been exposed in a series of Herald articles and a parliamentary inquiry into mould contamination and maintenance failures at the Mater.
NSW Greens spokesperson for health Amanda Cohn said the pay situation "adds insult to injury" for the Mater nurses.
"These are the same nurses at the Mater who've had to blow the whistle on dangerous infrastructure issues impacting their workplace safety and patients," said Dr Cohn, who is chair of the inquiry.
Nurses have appeared before the inquiry twice.
"They are exhausted and burnt out," Dr Cohn said.
"Now they're having to advocate for themselves to receive the pay rise that was mandated by the IRC (Industrial Relations Commission).
"We didn't need any more reasons that this hospital should be brought back into public hands, but here's another one."
The Mater nurses were told on Wednesday that the back pay would be paid this Friday.
This followed Dr Cohn raising the issue in NSW Parliament, union advocacy and Herald queries to NSW Health.
NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association general secretary Michael Whaites said he had written to NSW Health urging them to "promptly pass on the increase".
"This delay is frustrating for our members who are dealing with rising cost-of-living pressures and are eagerly awaiting this much-needed back pay," Mr Whaites said.
"There is no clear reason for the hold-up, given nurses and midwives working across the public health system have now received their back pay."
He said this followed the wage increase approved by the NSW Industrial Relations Commission in April.
The Calvary Mater is considered an affiliated health organisation (AHO) due to being operated by a Catholic healthcare organisation. However, it is integrated into the public health system.
One Mater nurse said "we are always at a disadvantage and not paid the public pay rises and back pay at the same time as the NSW Health nurses".
Mr Whaites said the union had advocated for the back pay to be paid to nurses at "all AHOs urgently", including the Mater.
"We have been advised that the payment is scheduled to be processed this week," he said.
"We will continue to escalate this issue until every member is paid what they are owed."
Courtney Houssos, who represented Health Minister Ryan Park in the Legislative Council this week, said "NSW Health has put a process in place" for the back pay to be paid.
Ms Houssos conceded it was "far easier" for the government to back pay nurses and midwives directly employed by NSW Health, rather than through an AHO.
A NSW Health statement said funding would be provided by Hunter New England Health to Calvary Mater Newcastle for nurse back pay this week.
