By Roberto Jorquera
PERTH — On May 20, nurses in Western Australia began a 48-hour strike. This is the first time that WA nurses have taken this type of industrial action.
The nurses are campaigning for increased funding for hospitals and a 13% pay rise over two years.
As part of their action, nurses established picket lines outside all of the metropolitan hospitals and distributed information to the public about the issues. Hundreds of passing motorists honked to show their support. Many patients also came down from the wards to visit the nurses and show solidarity.
On the first day of the strike, a contingent of nurses marched to the construction workers' rally being held at Solidarity Park. The nurses were welcomed warmly and given the platform.
The construction division of the CFMEU expressed its support for the Australian Nursing Federation's (ANF) campaign, stating that the work of nurses cannot be overpaid. The construction workers were encouraged to join the nurses' pickets.
Under Richard Court's Liberal government, public health services have deteriorated dramatically. According to WA Health Department reports, while the number of office staff in state public hospitals rose by 224 during the last financial year, nursing staff increased by only two. The number of operations performed in public hospitals rose from 108,000 in the 1995-96 financial year to 122,000 in 1996-97.
The lack of response by the government to the 48-hour stoppage has forced the ANF to launch a campaign of rolling stoppages. Nurses at the Swan District Hospital stopped work for 24 hours on May 22. The ANF says that the campaign will continue until health minister Kevin Prince makes nurses a new pay offer.
On May 25, the campaign will move to the Royal Perth Hospital, then on to the Bentley Health Service on May 26, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital on May 27, Osborne Park Hospital on May 28 and Fremantle Hospital on May 29.