I work in Melbourne as a nurse in the public sector. I'm not sure if everyone is aware of what's happening between the government and Victorian Nurses lately but our pay and conditions are up for negotiation. We are now the lowest paid nurses in Australia by a huge 20%. We asked for an increase of 18% over three years to bring us even with the rest of Australia. What they offered us was an 3.25% increase over 5 years! Not only that they want to take away our nurse patient ratios which is now 4-1 or 5-1 in acute which ensure safe patient care!!!!
On the 16th of October us Nurses met together in Melbourne to discuss this offer. Obviously we are not able to accept, it's a totally unacceptable offer. On the 17th we took action and started striking. Generally 4 beds are being closed on most wards and some elective surgery has been postponed. Obviously emergency, ICU, maternity, oncology and other specific wards are not effected.
I've been shocked to find that every shift; morning, afternoon and night shift, management has been approaching staff to fill in these closed beds that are currently not staffed for due to striking. If we refuse this, as in taking on extra work, they dock us FOUR hours pay each for each shift we work. That is if we work a normal 8 hour shift we only get paid for half the shift!!
We as nurses work so hard day in and day out, sometimes at our own risk, to provide safe and effective patient care. We're passionate about what we do and love our jobs but lets be honest we need our pay to live and everyone needs trained and competent staff to care for them.
We should be paid accordingly and in this day and age, this sort of pay docking SHOULD NOT HAPPEN!!!!
We need the public behind us for these tough times ahead!!!! Lets hope the government comes to their senses!!!
Thanks for listening to my ramble
Jemmakin
hopeful
ditzy