Nurses respond to Reith.

The Federal Coalition Government has proposed significant changes to existing industrial relations legislation, changes which will seriously affect health workers. Under threat are all paid rates awards and basic rights and entitlements such as sick leave, overtime and annual leave. As employees of the State health system, almost exclusively covered by the awards and agreements of the NSW Industrial Relations Commission, many nurses may be unconcerned about the consequences of these changes. It is vital that nurses are not fooled into a false sense of security, as this Federal legislation could easily have a flow-on effect to the State system. The Federal legislation also represents a strident assault upon the ability of working people to pursue their collective interest.