NURSES at Perth's public hospitals are poised to strike if they don't get an acceptable resolution to wage talks.
The WA Industrial Relations Commissioner has directed the health department to respond at 10am (WST) on Friday to the Australian Nurses Federation's (ANF) wage claim of at least 12.75 per cent over three years.
Union members will vote at a mass meeting scheduled for 11am.
"If I have to go to a member meeting an hour later at 11 o'clock empty handed, I know that our members at that meeting will want to walk off the job today," ANF state secretary Mark Olson told Fairfax Radio.
Commissioner Pamela Scott asked the ANF to report back with the outcome of the vote at 4pm.
In addition to higher wages, the nurses want to do fewer menial tasks they say they've had to do because there are too few orderlies and cleaners.
The commissioner this week recommended lifting work bans that have closed one in five beds in many wards.
Premier Colin Barnett says no agreement can be signed during the caretaker period before the March 9 election.
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