The Nurses Union are talking strike if ACT Nurses don’t get a bigger pay increase this year, reports ABC News.
The Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) and the Government have been unable to reach a compromise over a new four-year pay and conditions agreement.
ANF ACT branch secretary Jenny Miragaya says the current offer is less than the expected cost of living increases.
“At the moment what’s on the table is a 2 per cent pay increase which is less than CPI [consumer price index] and it does nothing to actually value and respect the nurses and the midwives,” she said.
“They were unable to meet the very reasonable offer made by the members.
“The members had directed the ANF that if they couldn’t meet those conditions that we were to seek a protected action ballot from the Fair Work Commission.”
On Wednesday Queanbeyan and Cooma nurses walked off the job joining colleagues across New South Wales.
The nurses were concerned about the number of nurses available to attend to each patient and its impact on patient care.