The Australian Nursing Federation WA has claimed the government is trying to stifle the voices of its members by attempting to stop a poll regarding whether to accept the latest pay offer.
ANFWA secretary Janet Reah told a small group of nurses gathered outside Perth Children’s Hospital on Friday afternoon the state government had applied to the Industrial Relations Commission to stop the poll.
Nurses at a recent ANF rally.Credit:Elliahn Blenkinsop
The online poll was started to gauge support of from the ANF membership about whether they would accept the state government’s improved pay offer made earlier this week.
The poll began on Friday and was scheduled to run until Tuesday but Reah said the government was trying to stop it in the IRC.
If a majority of members did not support the new offer the union had promised it was going to hold a statewide day-long strike.
Reah is due back in the IRC at 3pm.
Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson was contacted for comment.
More to come.