There is progress for NSW and Queensland nurses with unions agreeing to pay offers. But for NSW, the real showdown starts in the Commission this month.
There has been progress for NSW and Queensland nursing pay disputes with both associations agreeing to government pay offers.
The NSW Nurses and Midwives Association has agreed to a 3% interim pay rise offer, but will keep fighting for a longer-term 35% increase.
The increase will be back paid to 1 July 2025, and includes a night duty penalty increase to 20%. There are also several no-cost claims, including:
- two consecutive days off;
- consultation before published roster changes;
- no night duty before annual leave unless requested.
According to NSWMWA general secretary, Shaye Candish, the important thing is putting money in members’ pockets now.
“Nurses and midwives are struggling to pay their bills in this cost-of-living crisis so any financial relief is welcomed. Improvements to rosters will also provide staff with greater work-life balance,” said Ms Candish.
However, it’s not the end of the fight for better pay and conditions. There is still a pathway for the remaining matters to be determined by the independent Industrial Relations Commission.
“Our case for a 35% pay increase over three years will begin in the NSW Industrial Relations Commission later this month,” Ms Candish continued.
According to the NSW minister for health Ryan Park, the government is turning things around after scrapping the Coalition’s 12-year wage cap.
“This vote is a major step to addressing the chronic shortage of nurses in our hospitals but there is
more to do.
“We have an independent process underway to determine what we need to do to ensure NSW nurses have the pay and conditions needed, including to address the gender pay gap that exists,” he said.
The IRC case is set down for a six-week hearing from 30 September.
In Queensland, the Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union has given in-principle agreement to the State Government’s EB12 wage and conditions offer.
“Today we have formally written to Queensland Health and advised the Health Minister that we provide in-principle agreement to the EB12 offer,” QNMU Secretary Sarah Beaman said today.
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“We put the EB12 offer to our members who told us they supported the agreement proceeding to a ballot of all Queensland Health nurses and midwives.”
This means the proposal can proceed to a formal ballot.
“If the ballot is successful, the agreement will be certified by the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission and become legally binding,” Ms Beaman said.
“Once that process is completed, this year’s 3% wage increase (plus allowances) will be back paid to 1 April 2025.”
Key items in the EB12 in-principle agreement include:
- Existing rights and entitlements protected;
- 11% over three years including 3% pay rise from 1 April 2025 (plus 0.5% CPI uplift adjustment), 2.5% pay rise from 1 April 2026 (plus 1% CUA), 2.5% pay rise from 1 April 2027 and 3% pay rise from 1 December 2027;
- Overtime paid at double time for all shift workers;
- New RN/Midwife pay point (NG5.8), raising the earning potential for nearly half of Queensland Health nurses and midwives;
- New or improved allowances including for NUM/MUMs, Endorsed Midwives, Enrolled Nurses, and Woodford Correctional Centre staff;
- Expansion and increase of rural and remote isolation bonuses;
- New rights to increase part-time hours, request permanent night shift, and job-share NUM/MUM roles. The agreement also enshrines 14 weeks’ paid parental leave and 10 days’ Domestic Violence leave;
- A positive duty on QH to prevent sexual harassment, stronger protections for complainants, recognition of unintentional violence, and new resources on fatigue and bullying;
- Stronger protections for NUM/MUM indirect hours, recognition of student supervision hours, BPF governance improvements, redeployment guidelines, and rural graduate support;
- Six Gender Equity Project recommendations implemented, and stronger obligations on QH to prevent harassment.
Ms Beaman congratulated members for standing strong.
“There is always work to be done but this is another important step, it is a step that starts to value us, respect us and support ongoing recruitment to our profession,” she said.
“I am incredibly proud of our members and the strength they have shown in holding this government to account in so many ways.
“We are a strong and proud union of nurses and midwives and we have once again proven what we are made of.”