ANMF Set to Return to Negotiating Table Over Nurses and Midwives Offer

The ANMF will return to the negotiating table tomorrow to seek amendments to the Nurses and Midwives Public Sector Agreement.

ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd said the ANMF recognises the offer has attempted to address all the themes of the ANMFs comprehensive 73 log of claim items.

“However, there are some areas that have not been considered and the salary improvements are likely to disadvantage the vast majority of the nursing and midwifery classifications,” Ms Shepherd said.

“The main themes of the ANMF log of claims related to valuing nurses and midwives compared to other States and Territories as well as other sectors, staffing the health system with appropriate skill mix and legislated ratios and protecting the workforce with improved safety initiatives and allowances recognising the risk associated with working in challenging environments.

“It’s clear that the negotiating team have considered all of the ANMF’s log of claims as the offer does go to all elements of the log of claims, however, the ANMF will be seeking amendments at the negotiating table tomorrow, particularly in relation to members’ own health and wellbeing as well as competitive wages.”

Ms Shepherd said preliminary feedback indicates that members are very concerned with the ability to recruit and retain nurses and midwives in Tasmania without an offer that allows for a competitive wage increase compared to other States and Territories and other sectors, like aged care in Tasmania as well as ensuring that their own health and wellbeing are protected equally to that of their patients.

“ANMF analysis shows that at the end of the three-year agreement, the vast majority of Nurses and Midwives will be more than 11% behind the best paid nurses and midwives in the country.

“This will only mean more costs for the Tasmanian Government, which will continue to pay millions of dollars for agency staff to cover the ongoing shortfalls in staffing across the Tasmanian Health System.”

Ms Shepherd said in addition to Nurses and Midwives considering other States and Territories for employment due to better wages and conditions, the Aged Care Sector is also competitive in Tasmania with many aged care facilities paying higher wages to Nurses since the positive outcomes from ANMF advocacy in the recent work value case for aged care workers.

“The ANMF will continue to negotiate with the Government in good faith.

“However, members are not yet convinced the offer is sufficient to stand down their industrial action.”

The ANMF has a mass member and community rally scheduled for Parliament Lawns on November 4 with HACSU, other Unions and community members invited to attend to show their support for members and the Tasmanian Health System.

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