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Issue No. 165 | 20 December 2002 |
Terror Australis
Interview: Taking Stock Bad Boss: Pushing the Envelope Unions: The Year That Was Republic: Still Fighting International: Global Ties, Global Binds Politics: Turning Green Technology: Unions Online 2002 Industrial: The Past Is Before Us Economics: Market Insecurity Review: Shooting for Sanity Poetry: The PM's Christmas Message Culture: Zanger's Sounds of Summer
Abbott Gears For Grocon Stoush Restaurateur Takes Knife to Wages Protection Legal Double Whammy to End Year We�re Dreaming of a Sweat-Free Christmas Abbott's Xmas Message: Go To Jail Woolies Discount Spirit of Christmas New Collapses Prove Entitlements Farce UN Migrant Worker Charter Welcomed
The Soapbox The Locker Room Bosswatch Predictions
Representative Representatives Men Only? Dry Argument Vale: Phil Berrigan
Labor Council of NSW |
News Nurses Perform Wage Surgery
The IRC added six percent rise to the four percent due on January 1 as part of the five-year agreement between the Nurses Association and State Government. The special additional payment applies to nurses in public hospitals and public health care facilities. A further five per cent pay rise is due on 1 July 2003, which means that - because the rises compound on each other - public sector nurses wages will rise by nearly 16 per cent in 2003. From January 1 public sector nurses will get between $47 and $185 extra a week, depending on classification. The majority of general ward nurses - Registered Nurse Year 8 - will receive a $92.00 per week pay rise. A full-time new graduate nurse - Registered Nurse Year 1 - will receive an extra $65.00 per week. The Full Bench of the NSW IRC granted the pay rise as part of an interim decision in the NSW Nurses Association's (NSWNA) special wages case. The final decision is expected next year, following the presentation in February and March of final submissions by the NSWNA and NSW Health Department. Nurses Association general secretary, Brett Holmes, called the interim rise "a substantial first step" in his organisation's campaign to rebuild nursing as an attractive career option. "The NSW IRC has sent a positive message to the nurses of NSW today and we look forward to building on that in the final decision next year," Holmes says. "The Commission clearly understands the seriousness of the nurse shortage and has accepted that improved nurse wages are an important factor in overcoming the shortage. "The vast majority of nurses will appreciate this pay rise and appreciate the strong support they have received from the general community in their push for a better deal," Mr Holmes said." As part of its What's a Nurse Worth? campaign the NSWNA is seeking, through this special case, a one-off 15% pay rise, qualification allowances and retention allowances for nurses. The case began in mid-June and so far has had 35 days of hearings, involving around 40 witnesses. The Full Bench hearing the case is NSW IRC President, Justice Lance Wright, Justice Roger Boland and Commissioner Ray Patterson. The What's a Nurse Worth? campaign has included public-awareness events in cities, suburbs and towns throughout the State, stop work meetings and rallies at various hospitals and a statewide public-sector nurses' strike on 18 October 2001. As part of the campaign, the NSWNA also collected more than 120,000 signatures on what is believed to be the biggest petition ever presented to the NSW Parliament.
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