PERTH — The campaign by Western Australia's nurses to win wage parity with nurses in other states looks set to escalate in the lead-up to the state elections, following a government backflip.
In response to threats by the Australian Nurses Federation (ANF) to vote against the Labor party in the federal election, the state Labor government made a new wage offer of 15% over three-and-a-half years. However, following the election the state government declared that the pay rise would take effect at settlement, rather than being backdated to May when the previous agreement expired.
According to the ANF, this reduces the offer to 15% over four years or 10.5% over three years — the amount the government was originally offering. Nurses have threatened a campaign of industrial action, if the state government fails to deliver a 15% rise over three years.
The government denied that its offer changed, and threatened to take the ANF into arbitration in order to end the protected bargaining period and force acceptance of the current offer.
In response, ANF state secretary Mark Olsen told the October 14 West Australian: "If they choose to have it arbitrated, there won't be any strikes right now but as the election draws near there will be disruptions to hospitals, there will be bed closures and there will be nurses out there on polling day."
Chris Latham
Tilers vote to continue strike
PERTH — On October 13, 550 roof tilers in Western Australia voted to extend their strike action for a further week.
The strike began on October 8, when 300 tilers voted in favor of a stoppage to demand a 15% pay rise over three years, redundancy pay of 1.75 hours per week and an increase in the casual loading to 25%. The current hourly rate ranges from $16.50 to $18 — less than half the rate paid to bricklayers. First-year apprentice tillers earn just $6.50 an hour.
One of the key problems is that currently, builders pay a lump sum to tiling manufacturers for both materials and labour. As tiles can not be bought separately, the manufacturers can depress wages in the industry and boost their profits.
On October 8, Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union WA state secretary Kevin Reynolds said: "These companies make millions of dollars in profits and can well afford to meet the claim. If Bristile can afford to pay two of its senior staff $30 million, then they can afford a fraction of that amount on the tilers who bring in the money."
Chris Latham
Save nursing at Sydney Uni!
SYDNEY — On October 13, 40 students rallied to save the nursing faculty at Sydney University. The cuts are a result of the federal government's "Nelson Review" changes to higher education.
Sydney University nursing student Karoline Morwitzer read a list of demands, including a staff and student meeting with the administration to discuss the closure. "We have a right to know — we pay enough money!", Morwitzer said to applause.
Students marched to the nursing faculty administration and won their demand for a meeting after occupying the office. During the meeting, a speak-out took place outside the window and students discussed the impact of the cuts to other faculties.
Jess Melvin
From Green Left Weekly, October 20, 2004.
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