NSW nurses say yes to new pay deal

Ratios will be progressively implemented in NSW hospitals starting March

NSW nurses have overwhelmingly voted in favour of a new pay and conditions package which should ensure hundreds more nurses working in state hospitals.

The package was offered by the state government following industrial action in January, which resulted in up to 600 hospital beds being closed.

Nurses have been offered a 9.7 per cent pay rise over the next two years. A portion of the pay rise is backdated to July 2010.

An extra 1400 full-time equivalent nurses will also begin working in NSW hospitals, under the deal negotiated by the NSW Nurses' Association (NSWNA).

The union said on Monday that 90 per cent of its members had voted in favour of the measures.
It said it would have the package formally ratified by the Industrial Relations Commission this week.

NSW nurses began the industrial action earlier this year to try and increase staff to patient ratios.
It wanted one nurse to every four patients, said to be the current standard in Victoria.

"Ratios will be progressively implemented starting March," a statement from the nursing union said on Monday.

"Recruitment now starts for the new nurses needed to start implementing the higher staffing levels.
"The additional nurses will be delivered progressively between March this year and June 2013."

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