A union says maternal and child health nurses in Bendigo have compromised on a wage increase and reached an in-principle agreement with the city council.
Nurses working for the council launched industrial action last month after reaching a deadlock on the terms of a new enterprise bargaining agreement.
However, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation’s Loretta Marchesi says the nurses have decided better working conditions are more important than higher wages.
“The nurses are not going to die in a ditch over wages,” she said.
“They are very, very mindful of their responsibility and the urgent needs of the requirements of the families and the babies.
“So that’s probably far more important for them to ensure they’re able to meet that reasonably.”