Geraldton nurses to join state-wide strikes over ongoing pay dispute with State Government

Geraldton nurses will be going on strike this Friday, joining the nurses across the state as the dispute between the union and State Government continues. Between 50 and 80 Geraldton nurses will take part in the strike according to Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) WA, with a rally expected to take place at 1.30pm at the front of Geraldton Hospital. The strike comes after more than a month of negotiations over pay and conditions between the ANF and McGowan Government. About 400 elective surgeries across WA have been rescheduled, according to the WA Health director general, but the Department of Health was unable to say how many were meant to happen in Geraldton. The ANF is calling for a 5 per cent pay increase. The State Government has reiterated that 3 per cent is its final offer. The WA Industrial Relations Commission ordered the union to cancel its strike, but the union announced on Thursday it would be defying those orders.