Hospital strikes called off
The next round of strikes by Perth hospital workers has been called off, after meeting in the WA Industrial Relations Commission this morning.
The Health Services Union said it had suspended industrial action planned for three hospitals while it renewed pay negotiations with the State Government.
It follows two 12-hour strikes earlier this week at Royal Perth and Sir Charles Gairdner hospitals, which resulted in more 40 elective surgery cases and dozens of outpatient appointments being cancelled.
As part of the ongoing pay dispute, more stoppages had been planned for Bentley and Armadale hospitals on Tuesdayand Fremantle Hospital on Thursday.
HSUWA secretary Dan Hill said the decision to suspend the action came after a conciliation conference recommended it be called off to allow the union and the Health Department to have discussions before the commission.
"We have agreed to this recommendation, as we have always been prepared to negotiate," he said.
But work bans and work-to-rule, which have already been introduced in hospitals across the State, would continue.
