‘Take us seriously': QLD nurses and midwives to ramp up industrial action next week over pay dispute with Queensland Health

Sky News AU

3 days ago

Queensland nurses will increase their industrial action from next week after demands including wage increases were not met by Queensland Health.
The Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union (QNMU) is calling for a 13% wage increase over two and a half years, as well as increased support and expansion of the rural and remote workforce.
QNMU secretary Sarah Beaman said the union has spent more than 150 hours negotiating with Queensland Health, and they were left with no choice but to ramp up industrial action.
'Our members are furious after the repeated delays that have led us to this point,' she said.
'The only way we can make the government take us seriously is by taking stronger Protected Industrial Action.'
The statewide action will include activities such as no overtime unless there has been a minimum of four hours' notice, no answering administrative phones, and no entering of Medicare details at patient admissions, along with a list of other actions.
Ms Beaman has called on the government to 'break the stalemate' and meet the union's demands.
'Nurses and midwives are holding the system together through sheer heart, skill and relentless effort – without us, it doesn't function,' she said.
'The government can break the stalemate at any time by bringing a genuine offer and response to the QNMU's pay and conditions claim.'
'If we do nothing, there simply will not be enough nurses and midwives to safely staff our expanding hospital and care for you and your loved ones.'
The union they believed they had found 'some common ground' with Queensland Health, until it all 'fell apart' last week.
'On the final day of talks, Queensland Health pulled the rug out from under us, declaring that everything we thought was agreed was suddenly off the table,' they said.
'This is blatant gaslighting – and we won't stand for it.'
The union confirmed industrial action would begin on Tuesday, July 8 from 7 am.
QNMU had been taking 'Stage 1' industrial action since June 5, which included wearing pink, showing stickers, and sharing EB12 materials, including resources and posters.
The union has also made an application to the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission regarding the negotiations, and confirmed industrial action will not 'compromise patient safety' or the safety of other persons.