‘We're done being disrespected': Nurses ramp up action over fair pay
The Queensland Nurses and Midwives' Union (QNMU) has confirmed members across all Queensland Health facilities will participate in targeted action, stepping back from a range of non-clinical duties while continuing to prioritise direct patient care.
QNMU secretary Sarah Beaman said members were sending a clear message to Health Minister Tim Nicholls that it was now time for a new, nation-leading offer.
'Today marks a historic step in our push for a deal that recruits, respects and retains this state's frontline nursing and midwifery workforce,' Ms Beaman said.
'Nurses and midwives are holding our health system together through sheer heart, skill and determination.
'We're at breaking point and we're done being disrespected.'
The latest action follows the union's rejection of the government's proposed 11 per cent pay rise over three years, with the QNMU instead pushing for a 13 per cent increase over the same period.
The government's offer includes staged increases of 3 per cent in April 2025, 2.5 per cent in both April 2026 and April 2027, and a final 3 per cent in December 2027.
Mr Nicholls has described the proposal as a 'nation-leading' package that includes an 'Australian-first double-time-for-overtime care package'.
However, Ms Beaman said the deal would strip Queensland's nurses and midwives of their long-held position as the highest paid in the country, a status they've maintained for 15 years.
She said the workforce was now escalating action to 'keep Queenslanders safe.'
'We are over the state government's stalling tactics and gaslighting,' she said.
Actions under stage 2 include not performing administrative and support duties such as filing, answering phones, cleaning equipment, moving beds or entering non-clinical data into hospital systems.
The QNMU has also issued specific notices for additional actions in various wards and units across the state.
The union confirmed it had provided Queensland Health with the required three full working days' notice to allow for contingency planning. The industrial action has been approved by the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC).
Members will continue to document all clinical observations to ensure safe, continuous care.
The QNMU said the latest action was in response to what it described as a failure by the government to uphold its written commitment to maintain nation-leading wages and conditions.
It said that under the current offer, more than 36,000 of Queensland Health's 55,000 nurses and midwives would miss out on those wage standards.
'We have not taken this decision lightly, but the government has left us no choice,' Ms Beaman said.
She said the protected industrial action is about making sure there were enough nurses and midwives to care for Queenslanders.
'Fair pay, safe conditions, respect. That's all we're asking,' Ms Beaman said.
The first stage of industrial action began on June 5 with low-level visibility activities such as staff wearing pink or promotional shirts and email signature updates.
Ms Beaman said the stage 2 action would be 'legal, safe, and targeted,' in response to what she described as ongoing disrespect and gaslighting from the LNP state government.
She emphasised that while the action may cause some inconvenience for Queensland Health officials, patient safety would not be compromised.
'We dedicate our working lives to the provision of safe, quality health care. As such, patient safety remains our priority at all times,' she said.
Ms Beaman clarified the action was not a strike and assured the public that nurses and midwives would remain on the job, continuing to deliver frontline care.
'Nurses and midwives will be focusing on direct patient care, rather than some of the many other additional duties which have been added to their workload over the years,' she said.
'Nurses and midwives will not suddenly abandon their professional obligations or their longstanding and demonstrated commitment to patients and their care.
'But we are standing strong and calling on this government to bring an end to the disrespect and dishonouring of its election commitment.
'The Premier promised frontline nurses and midwives he would respect them. It's time to make good that promise.'
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