The region's nurses and public service workers are anxiously awaiting a decision regarding whether the state government's plans to freeze wages will go ahead.
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Currently before the NSW Industrial Relations Commission, NSWNMA Tamworth branch president Matthew Cartan said the proposal to freeze wages had drawn condemnation from his colleagues.
"Locally, most of the nurses I have spoken to at work are pretty disgusted by the fact the state government wants to do this," he said.
"A survey done through us showed nurses are disgusted by the whole thing because of the work we do.
"With everything that's going on, it's never been a tougher time to work in this industry."
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Floated by the state government in May, the freeze would mean public service workers' annual pay increase of 2.5 per cent would not go ahead this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr Cartan said if it's approved, the freeze would have an adverse affect on regional economies like Tamworth.
"As our general secretary said, overall the wage freeze is really just a bad policy that will actually mean less spending in NSW, which is the opposite of what the government wants to do.
"I think our survey said the average nurse is likely to lose on average $160 a month.
"That's a lot of money for small businesses to miss out on."
Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson said the freeze was necessary to help kick-start the state's economy in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.
"We totally recognise those on the front line, who have done a fantastic job and if we had an endless bucket of money they would absolutely get a pay rise," Mr Anderson said.
"However, we are just asking everybody to pause, share a bit of the pain and now it's time to give a little bit back to businesses.
"It's just a freeze for 12 months only, that's it."
Mr Cartan said he was unsure if his association would take industrial action should the commission's decision favour the government.
"I can't really say because everything has to be voted on once it's all said and done," he said.
"Anything we do as an association has to be voted on by all of the members before any action is taken.
"We will just have to wait and see what happens."
