Nurses and Midwives meet to discuss industrial action

MEDIA DOORSTOP

WHERE: Launceston General Hospital – Frankland Street (Ortho Clinic Entry)
WHEN: Today, Wednesday 23 September
TIME: 2:15pm

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Tasmanian Branch (ANMF) will today hold a Mass Member meeting at the Launceston General Hospital following the disappointing outcome in bargaining yesterday where members were expecting to receive an offer for their replacement agreement, but no offer was made.  

ANMF Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd said the ANMF has been negotiating since April 2026 and have presented a log of 73 log claims items developed following extensive member feedback.

“It has taken considerable time to provide the context and the rationale for these claim items, and it is only right that members claim items are presented and heard at the bargaining table,” Ms Shepherd said.

“One of those claim items is the implementation and legislation of ratios – yet we heard yesterday that the Public Sector Industrial Relations Committee want more detail on what those ratios will look like, detail that they have had four years to develop in collaboration with the ANMF.

“Yet this is now what it is holding up our members getting a competitive and supportive offer for their replacement agreement.”

Ms Shepherd said it’s extremely disappointing that despite months of good faith bargaining and the ANMF working constructively to provide extensive evidence on their claim items that an offer has not been made to members.

“Our members are exhausted and hanging on for an offer that will improve their working conditions and in turn their ability to provide higher quality care to patients.

“These are members who are working in one of the worst performing hospitals in the country due to capacity and poor access and flow and continue to prop up the hospital with overtime and double shifts and part-time staff picking up extra shifts.

“It is also where members continue to face constant daily threats to their own health and wellbeing and acts of violence and aggression.

“Members already feel undervalued and holding up an offer due to the failure to complete the work that was supposed to be done in collaboration with ANMF members is just another blow to exhausted and burnt-out members.”

Ms Shepherd said the ANMF will today discuss with members their views on the next steps of the bargaining process and whether this will include industrial action.

“Regardless, the ANMF will continue to meet with the Department in good faith to work toward securing an offer that values and respects the dedicated and hard-working nurses and midwives in the Tasmanian Health System.”

-End-

Media contact:
Emily Shepherd, ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary
Mobile: 0400 884 021
Email: Emily.Shepherd@anmftas.org.au