Vic nurses pay deal talks begin

Intensive talks between Victorian nurses and midwives are set to begin in a last minute attempt to stop industrial action.

Senior government officials are expected to meet with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation from 10am on Friday after union members agreed to delay industrial action so the talks could take place.

The current agreement ended on March 31, and members want a deal to bring them into line with their NSW counterparts, which could see pay rises between three and 20 per cent, depending on a nurse's grade.

If a deal isn't reached within 15 days, the union says they will hold rolling strikes across the state.