SA nurses accept pay deal

Public hospital nurses in South Australia have voted to accept a revised pay offer from the State Government.

They are to get an extra 14.5 per cent over three years plus improved working conditions.

It will mean an extra $233 a week for the average nurse.

Lee Thomas from the Australian Nursing Federation says it is two per cent better than the original offer.

"It's taken almost five months of steady negotiation and certainly negotiation over the last few days last week which has been intensive with the assistance of the Industrial Relations Commission of course who forced the Government back to the table to make us this new offer," she said.

During the dispute, nurses implemented bans that affected elective surgery, forcing a cancellation of hundreds of procedures.

SA Industrial Relations Minister Michael Wright says the industrial action was regrettable.

"I'm always apologetic where patients are disadvantaged and of course we would prefer that not to happen and I'm sorry for those patients who've had to go off a list," the Minister said.

"But the good thing now is we have all of that behind us, we have a good agreement with the nurses.

"We've come forward with what is a fair and affordable package that can be accommodated within the Budget."

Article from http://abc.net.au/news