WA nurses announce 48-hour strike
Rina Anticich
PERTH — The Australian Nursing Federation has announced a 48-hour strike in all public hospitals in Western Australia from May 19. The Liberal state government is refusing to increase its offer of a 6% wage increase over two years, which would keep WA nurses as the lowest paid in the country.
The nurses, who are demanding 13% over two years, have been negotiating with Premier Richard Court for more than two months. The talks have now broken down.
If the government's pay offer is not increased following the strike, the nurses plan to hold 24-hour rolling stoppages.
None of the state government's promised health funding increases has been designated for boosting the levels of staffing and pay.
In response to the nurses' industrial action over recent months, the government has accused them of being responsible for the 16,000-long waiting list for public hospital services. Such claims, however, have not reduced the high level of public support for the nurses.