ACT nurses stop work

Issue 

ACT nurses stop work

By Tyrion Perkins

Canberra — Nurses at Canberra's main hospital at Woden Valley are taking industrial action to stop changes to rostering.

Management is trying to pressure nurses into reducing their hours of work. The Australian Nurses Federation (ANF) says the reduced nursing hours will mean the same amount of work is done by fewer people. This heavier workload will reduce the ability to care for patients and increase the stress suffered by nurses, who will also be paid less because of working fewer hours.

Some nurses will not be able to met the roster changes and have to resign. The number of jobs lost will be equivalent to a ward closure, estimates the ANF. The hospital has already reduced the number of beds available. There are presently about 3000 patients waiting to get into the hospital.

Nurses have held stop-work meetings, and on November 17 100 nurses marched on the hospital administration.

ANF members resolved to work to strict award provisions until their demand to halt roster changes is met. They will refuse conversion of any full-time wages to part-time status or other reductions in hours. They will not work overtime without pay or write reports at home. The hospital saves much money and relies on nurses doing such "good will" duties.

Nurses have been conducting random rolling walkouts since November 25.

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