On February 23, the New Zealand Nurses Organisation announced that its members had voted to accept their first national industrial agreement since 1991, with 82% voting in favour. The agreement, which will cover 200,000 nurses, midwives and health-care assistants, offers an average wage increase of 20%. According to NZNO spokesperson Leila Harre, the nurses were victorious because of their demand that nurses' pay be fair in comparison with other public-sector workers, such as teachers and police officers.
From Green Left Weekly, March 2, 2005.
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