Nurses fight on

By Mairi Manley

ANGER over changes to IR legislation saw nurses take to the streets with banners in Shellharbour last Monday.

They gathered at Shellharbour Hospital to express their concerns over statements made by State Opposition Leader, Peter Debnam in regard to IR. Mr Debnam said last March that he had not altered his position on IR, reiterating that if elected at this month's state election, he would legislate to refer a majority of the state's industrial

relations powers to the commonwealth.

WorkChoices has met with a negative response from workers and is proving to be NSW premier, Morris Iemma's greatest weapon in the upcoming election. Nurses association representative, Judith Kiejda said the association was "deeply concerned" over the possibility of a change of government in NSW.

"IR has assisted public sector nurses to get the wages and conditions they have now," she said.

"With the proposed changes, particularly in regard to aged care nursing, we're looking at the loss of penalty rates, paid meal breaks and annual loading." Labor candidate for the seat of Shellharbour, Lylea McMahon said Mr Debnam had threatened to cut 20,000 jobs if elected.

"This would include frontline nurses, police, etc - all desperately-needed

people," she said.

"The average man and woman in the street has good reason to fear for their future if there is a change of government in NSW."