Nurses have walked off the job at five hospitals across Sydney, as they rally for better pay.

The July 26 industrial action was the first major strike of private hospital nurses in New South Wales’ history.

The Macquarie Hospital Services nurses rallied in Martin Place as part of the 24-hour strike, waving banners, demanding an unconditional five percent pay rise and to retain their current conditions.

Hospitals affected by the industrial action from the start of their morning shifts included Minchinbury Community Hospital at Mount Druitt,President Private Hospital at Kirrawee, Delmar Private Hospital at Dee Why, Manly Waters Private Hospital at Manly and Eastern Suburbs Private Hospital at Randwick.

NSW Nurses Association general secretary Brett Holmes said Macquarie nurses have had enough.

“At the moment these Macquarie nurses have no wages agreement and are covered by the Nurses Award 2010,” he said.

“As a result they are paid much less than nurses at other private and public hospitals.

“To date Macquarie Hospital Services is only offering unconditional pay rises of 3.5 percent in year one and then two percent per year in the following two years.