SA nurses reject wage freeze

ADELAIDE -- The SA branch of the Australian Nurses Federation has rejected the wage freeze proposed by the state Liberal government in its May financial statement.

The ANF federal executive reported to delegates at the union's annual conference on their decision to seek a review, in August, of registered and enrolled nurses' rates nationally.

ANF state secretary Gail Gago said, “Registered nurses have not had a review of their salaries since August 1991, and the freeze would mean that they would not have the opportunity for such a review until mid-1996 -- a period of five years without adjustment.

“The government has attempted to blackmail nurses and other pubic sector employees into accepting the freeze by threatening to cut jobs. The reality is that they fully intend to cut employment regardless of any freeze.”

SA nurses are already campaigning against the state government's cuts to health funding. Gago warned that the government would attempt to use this against the nurses' campaign for a wage rise.

Nurses in NSW and the Northern Territory have already obtained pay increases this year, as have some public sector nurses in Victoria. Queensland nurses expect to achieve an agreement by August -- hence the delay in starting the national review.

Nurses in all states, including SA, have achieved substantial efficiency or productivity improvements in recent years. “It is appalling that the government is asking nurses to provide greater levels of care to more patients and at the same time wants to use savings on wages to pay for the services provided”, Gago concluded.

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