The industrial dispute between the government and nurses has been resolved with ground given on both sides.
The pay and conditions stand-off between the state government and nurses is over with the Australian Nursing Federation accepting a lesser pay deal, but securing enforcebale nurse to-patient-ratios starting early next year.
An agreement was reached this morning ahead of a planned strike by nurses at Fiona Stanley Hospital on Wednesday, which the government would have sort orders from the Industrial Relations Commission to stop.
“We are pleased that before those orders were considered by senior commissioner Rachel Cosentino, agreement was reached with the ANF to call off all industrial action, not to pursue further claims, and to present the state government’s final offer to its membership," a government statement read.
“We look forward to a membership ballot outcome and registration of a replacement agreement."
The new deal will include a pay increment of up to $1200 for about 50 per cent of nurses. Combined with the government's offer of 3 per cent and a $3000 cost of living bonus, the overall pay rise is closer to 5 per cent.
ANF chief executive Mark Olson said the clincher was the government's decision to accept an earlier timeframe to introduce the ratio of one nurse per four patients.`
"Under the circumstances it was certainly better than the government was ever offering," he said. "We had to make a decision and the ANF didn't believe that tomorrow's industrial action would have delivered a better result.
"We'd pushed as hard as we could. I am confident that when the new deal goes to our members they will say yes."
The nurses and midwives were five weeks into a campaign of rolling and increasing industrial action. It was due to culminate by Christmas with widespread strikes.
Prior to today's agreement, the ANF called for a 10 per cent pay rise per year for two years.
“On top of the commitment to nurse and midwife to patient ratios over the next two years, and the responsible and reasonable wages offer, the revised offer includes mentoring allowances for experienced nursing mentors to support the training of graduates – specifically level 1.8 and level 2.4 nurses," the government statement read.
"These allowances are an important initiative that recognises the important mentoring role and greater responsibilities of experienced nurses and midwives when training newer staff."
