Victorian hospitals could be thrown into chaos with one in four beds shut and planned surgeries cancelled if an industrial dispute drags on.
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The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation has rejected an offer of a three per cent pay rise from the state government and an annual $1500 payment.
From next week, nurses can wear union T-shirts at work, refuse to work overtime and not complete paperwork.
Members are threatening further action unless an agreement can be reached within a fortnight.
However, Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas is hopeful of a resolution.
She said negotiations were progressing in a respectful and productive way but stressed any wage increases would have to be in line with the government's three per cent cap on public sector pay rises.
"Negotiations will continue and I hope that we see a resolution," Ms Thomas told reporters on Wednesday.
Members will meet to consider a new offer on May 15 and if not satisfied will proceed with further action two days later.
The broader action would include the closure of one in four beds, cancellation of one in four elective surgeries and stop-work meetings.
Federation branch secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick said nurses were working in a "fractured" health system.
"Nurses and midwives take industrial action as a last resort when no one is listening to them," she said.
"These bans will be disruptive and may cause inconvenience but they will not impact on patient health or welfare."
Ms Fitzpatrick said workforce casualisation was the cause of rostering problems and a "significant contributor" to hospital budget blowouts.
"Hospital spending on unrostered and rostered overtime and agency nurses and midwives has doubled over the last four years alone, hospitals could save a bucketload of money if they rebuild their permanent workforce," she said.
"Reversing the casualisation of the workforce will take a higher and more nuanced package than the government's blunt three per cent wages policy."
Health services spent $291 million on overtime and agency and casual nurses and midwives in 2023, according to health data.
The nursing federation projects the government will spend in excess of $3 billion on its casual workforce by 2028.
In total, 98 per cent of members voted to take industrial action.
Australian Associated Press
