Victorian nurses have started a new round of industrial action over their lengthy and ongoing enterprise bargaining dispute with the Victorian Government.

 

The dispute has seen up to 650 nurses commence unprotected industrial action, with most walk offs occurring at the Royal Melbourne, Western and Dandenong hospitals.

 

The concerns centre around the reduction in nurse numbers to night duty levels, a move the Australian Nurses Federation (ANF) said the Victorian Government will make permanent.

 

Federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Bill Shorten, has put forward a proposition to resolve the longstanding dispute.

 

“I am concerned about recent developments between the Victorian Hospitals Industrial Association (VHIA) and the Australian Nurses Federation regarding a new workplace agreement to cover nurses and midwives in Victoria,” Mr Shorten said.

 

“Earlier this week I made approaches to the ANF and the Victorian Government outlining my concerns and view that it is preferable that the parties resolve this matter as soon as possible for the benefit of all Victorians.”

 

“Importantly, I offered to assist through the appointment of an independent person to determine the matters which remain unresolved between the parties.  This offer is designed as a circuit breaker to the current impasse.”