BREAKING: In a landmark victory, Queensland nurses and midwives have secured an 11% wage increase over three years, marking the largest pay rise in over a decade. This agreement, reached between the Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union and the state government, positions Queensland nurses as the highest paid in the country, surpassing their counterparts in Victoria.
The breakthrough follows months of negotiations and industrial action involving about 45,000 workers. The Queensland Industrial Relations Commission played a pivotal role in facilitating the agreement after initial pay negotiations stalled.
Union Secretary Sarah Beaman expressed her pride in the outcome, stating, “This has been a long journey for our members. After months of industrial action and hundreds of hours of negotiations, we’ve secured an offer that better respects the work nurses and midwives do every day across Queensland Health.”
The agreement, which is set to take effect soon, also introduces a new pay point for registered nurses and midwives, potentially increasing earnings for over 23% of union members. Additional benefits include double-time pay for overtime, 14 weeks of paid parental leave, and 10 days of domestic violence leave.
Health Minister Tim Nicholls hailed the outcome as a “tremendous victory for nurses and midwives,” noting that the negotiations involved 33 rounds of bargaining and 13 conciliation meetings. He emphasized the robust discussions that led to this significant agreement.
The union will be holding feedback sessions next week to gauge member sentiment before deciding whether to proceed with a vote on the deal. “This is a deal that better respects nurses and midwives and will support Queensland Health services in recruiting and retaining our workforce,” Beaman added.
With these developments, Queensland’s nurses and midwives are poised to surpass Victoria’s public sector nurses, who recently endorsed a 28.4% wage increase to be implemented by November 2027.
This momentous agreement not only represents a financial win but also underscores the critical role of healthcare workers in the state. The outcome of the union’s vote will be closely watched as Queensland prepares to lead the nation in nursing wages.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
