Introduction:
The Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) has been fined $350,000 by the Industrial Relations Commission for a planned strike that occurred last year. Despite the fine, the ANF is still fighting for better wages and working conditions for nurses and midwives in Western Australia.
Body:
Reasons for the Strike:
The strike was organized to demand better pay increases for nurses and midwives. Over 4000 nurses rallied outside the state parliament to protest against the state government’s decision to offer a three per cent wage increase instead of the demanded five per cent.
ANF’s Response to the Fine:
The ANF has expressed its disappointment at being fined, stating that it does nothing to improve the workloads and conditions that nurses and midwives face every day. The State Secretary of ANF, Janet Reah, was personally fined $10,000 in relation to the protest.
ANF’s Plan of Action:
Despite the fine, the ANF is not giving up on its fight for better wages and working conditions. The union is now looking at clauses within the EBA (Enterprise Bargaining Agreement) that can be altered to get the monetary figure needed for nurses and midwives. The ANF has also stated that it does not want to defy the state’s industrial watchdog and would rather work with them to negotiate the increase.
Conclusion:
The ANF’s fight for better wages and working conditions for nurses and midwives in Western Australia continues despite being handed down the biggest fine in Western Australian Union History. The ANF is now looking at alternative ways to negotiate the increase and is not planning any more strikes in the near future. It is important that nurses and midwives are paid fairly for their hard work and dedication to providing quality healthcare services to the community.
Source: 9news.com.au
