Industrial action by ‘fed up’ nurses

TASMANIA’S health system is about to be hit by statewide industrial action by nurses and midwives.

The industrial action is planned to start at 8am on Monday, says Emily Shepherd, secretary of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Tasmanian Branch.

“This action is in direct response to the government’s refusal to negotiate an agreement that recognises the hard work of nurses and midwives in the public sector,” Ms Shepherd said. “It is also aimed at highlighting issues surrounding retention and recruitment to the nursing and midwifery professions in Tasmania.”

Ms Shepherd said the ANMF had entered into negotiations with the government on May 31 in good faith and to date there had been no satisfactory outcome for members.

“The proposed 2 per cent wage rise for each year of the three-year agreement would mean that Tasmanian nurses and midwives would be the worst paid in the country by 2019,” she said. “The Tasmanian Government to date has not offered an improvement to the workload model that would allow for quality patient care and the minimisation of double shifts and overtime.

“Members across the state are fed up with propping up the Tasmanian Health Service. Over $7.5 million is spent in overtime and double shifts just to ensure basic safe patient care.”