The NSW government is under pressure to deliver a pay rise for hospital staff as workers on the state's north coast walk off the job for the first of three days of industrial action.
Premier Chris Minns says negotiations have begun with unions across NSW, but issues with the public sector workforce will take time to sort through.
"We've been actively engaged with the union movement in NSW, but there are big issues to solve and I can't promise that they'll be solved overnight," he said on Tuesday.
"We've got a major hill to climb when it comes to investing in the people that we need to run essential services in the state."
Labor was swept to power in March on a the promise of abolishing the public sector wages cap and increased pay for frontline workers
Frustrated staff at Tweed Hospital held a stop work meeting for an hour on Tuesday morning and more stoppages are planned at Lismore on Wednesday and at Coffs Harbour on Thursday.
The Health Services Union (HSU), which represents hospital workers such as cleaners, administrative and other support staff, says employees are frustrated that wage negotiations have yet to deliver a pay rise since Labor came to power.
HSU NSW secretary Gerard Hayes said the suppression of wages had led to a crisis in attracting and retaining health staff.
"NSW Labor was elected with significant expectations. They need to get moving on fulfilling them," he said.
"There are more than 12,000 vacancies in NSW Health, and there is no time to waste in lifting wages and conditions so that we attract and retain the health workers our state needs."
"Hard-working therapists, wards people, security and catering staff are living through a wages recession,'' Mr Hayes said.
"Their real incomes are being smashed as the cost of living melts their pay."
Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said the strikes were caused by the government's failure to implement a clear wages policy.
"This is a problem that the government has created itself," he said.
"This is what happens when you don't have a clear direction and a clear policy.
"The government listens heavily to union bosses. We say listen to families."