Premier Cook urges nurses to take 12.5 per cent after Australian Nursing Federation called for pay rise

Premier Roger Cook is urging nurses and midwives to accept a 12.5 per cent pay rise, with voting on the Government’s latest offer underway. The Australian Nursing Federation called the boosted offer more serious and said higher base pay will result in an average wage increase of 15 per cent, but the reaction from ANF members has been mixed online. “Rejected strongly. Lowest paid get smallest increase, how is that fair,” one comment said. “Should be 20 per cent across the board,” said another. But others welcomed the boosted offer: “The pay rises across the board are fairly good and shouldn’t be shunned.” Mr Cook urged them to accept the offer, with a survey of ANF members due to close on Sunday. “I think we’ve put a good offer to the nurses,” he said. “I’d love the nurses to get a Christmas present this year, a new wages deal, we’ve negotiated in good faith with the nurses. “They do an amazing job on behalf of our community and we want them to benefit from this new wage offer.” The WA Police Union agreed to a 12.75 per cent pay rise over three years last week, making nurses the remaining union holding out ahead of a State election next year. “I’m very pleased to say that the vast majority of public sector workers have now got new wages or conditions as a result of our public sector wages promises and negotiations that have taken place,” Mr Cook said. The new offer for nurses also included a $1040 payment for staff who take on a development nursing role, agreement to “review” how mothers and babies are counted in nurse to patient ratios, plus an extra two weeks of partner leave and an expansion of weekend shift penalties to include community nurses.