Latest news with #QueenslandNursesandMidwivesUnion
Sky News AU
02-07-2025
- Health
- Sky News AU
‘Take us seriously': QLD nurses and midwives to ramp up industrial action next week over pay dispute with Queensland Health
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.
The Advertiser
05-06-2025
- Health
- The Advertiser
Nurses warn pink protest for better pay could escalate
Nurses are expected to escalate their protest for better pay over the coming weeks as union members take industrial action for the first time in two decades. Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union members began protected industrial action on Thursday, wearing pink into hospitals to voice their demands. The 45,000-strong union is demanding the Queensland government follow through on its 2024 election commitment of "nation-leading" wages for the health workforce. The state government's public sector wages offer is currently three per cent in April 2025, 2.5 per cent in April 2026 and 2027, and an extra three per cent in December 2027. The union said 66.7 per cent of nurses and midwives would be paid less than their Victorian counterparts by the end of the agreement. It is demanding that the current offer be increased. "You have a government saying that they love nurses and they respect nurses, that is not being shown in the offers being put forward," union secretary Sarah Beaman told reporters in Brisbane on Thursday. "We are not being unreasonable. "We are not seeking a pat on the head, all (nurses) want is an offer that actually maintains the (government's) commitment." The first stage of the industrial action is wearing pink to start conversations about the union's demands but Ms Beaman warned it will likely escalate if demands are not met. "Activity launched today will escalate in the coming weeks, if the state government continues to threaten the rights of nurses and wives," she said. Further industrial action could include work bans but for now the pink campaign will not impact the delivery of health care, Ms Beaman said. Health Minister Tim Nicholls said the state government has made two offers to the union, including double time for overtime and an 11 per cent over three-year wage increase. "We believe that delivers on our election commitment to make sure that our Queensland nurses and midwives have nation-leading wages and conditions," he told reporters in Rockhampton. Mr Nicholls said the government will continue negotiating with the union over the next 10 days. Nurses are expected to escalate their protest for better pay over the coming weeks as union members take industrial action for the first time in two decades. Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union members began protected industrial action on Thursday, wearing pink into hospitals to voice their demands. The 45,000-strong union is demanding the Queensland government follow through on its 2024 election commitment of "nation-leading" wages for the health workforce. The state government's public sector wages offer is currently three per cent in April 2025, 2.5 per cent in April 2026 and 2027, and an extra three per cent in December 2027. The union said 66.7 per cent of nurses and midwives would be paid less than their Victorian counterparts by the end of the agreement. It is demanding that the current offer be increased. "You have a government saying that they love nurses and they respect nurses, that is not being shown in the offers being put forward," union secretary Sarah Beaman told reporters in Brisbane on Thursday. "We are not being unreasonable. "We are not seeking a pat on the head, all (nurses) want is an offer that actually maintains the (government's) commitment." The first stage of the industrial action is wearing pink to start conversations about the union's demands but Ms Beaman warned it will likely escalate if demands are not met. "Activity launched today will escalate in the coming weeks, if the state government continues to threaten the rights of nurses and wives," she said. Further industrial action could include work bans but for now the pink campaign will not impact the delivery of health care, Ms Beaman said. Health Minister Tim Nicholls said the state government has made two offers to the union, including double time for overtime and an 11 per cent over three-year wage increase. "We believe that delivers on our election commitment to make sure that our Queensland nurses and midwives have nation-leading wages and conditions," he told reporters in Rockhampton. Mr Nicholls said the government will continue negotiating with the union over the next 10 days. Nurses are expected to escalate their protest for better pay over the coming weeks as union members take industrial action for the first time in two decades. Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union members began protected industrial action on Thursday, wearing pink into hospitals to voice their demands. The 45,000-strong union is demanding the Queensland government follow through on its 2024 election commitment of "nation-leading" wages for the health workforce. The state government's public sector wages offer is currently three per cent in April 2025, 2.5 per cent in April 2026 and 2027, and an extra three per cent in December 2027. The union said 66.7 per cent of nurses and midwives would be paid less than their Victorian counterparts by the end of the agreement. It is demanding that the current offer be increased. "You have a government saying that they love nurses and they respect nurses, that is not being shown in the offers being put forward," union secretary Sarah Beaman told reporters in Brisbane on Thursday. "We are not being unreasonable. "We are not seeking a pat on the head, all (nurses) want is an offer that actually maintains the (government's) commitment." The first stage of the industrial action is wearing pink to start conversations about the union's demands but Ms Beaman warned it will likely escalate if demands are not met. "Activity launched today will escalate in the coming weeks, if the state government continues to threaten the rights of nurses and wives," she said. Further industrial action could include work bans but for now the pink campaign will not impact the delivery of health care, Ms Beaman said. Health Minister Tim Nicholls said the state government has made two offers to the union, including double time for overtime and an 11 per cent over three-year wage increase. "We believe that delivers on our election commitment to make sure that our Queensland nurses and midwives have nation-leading wages and conditions," he told reporters in Rockhampton. Mr Nicholls said the government will continue negotiating with the union over the next 10 days. Nurses are expected to escalate their protest for better pay over the coming weeks as union members take industrial action for the first time in two decades. Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union members began protected industrial action on Thursday, wearing pink into hospitals to voice their demands. The 45,000-strong union is demanding the Queensland government follow through on its 2024 election commitment of "nation-leading" wages for the health workforce. The state government's public sector wages offer is currently three per cent in April 2025, 2.5 per cent in April 2026 and 2027, and an extra three per cent in December 2027. The union said 66.7 per cent of nurses and midwives would be paid less than their Victorian counterparts by the end of the agreement. It is demanding that the current offer be increased. "You have a government saying that they love nurses and they respect nurses, that is not being shown in the offers being put forward," union secretary Sarah Beaman told reporters in Brisbane on Thursday. "We are not being unreasonable. "We are not seeking a pat on the head, all (nurses) want is an offer that actually maintains the (government's) commitment." The first stage of the industrial action is wearing pink to start conversations about the union's demands but Ms Beaman warned it will likely escalate if demands are not met. "Activity launched today will escalate in the coming weeks, if the state government continues to threaten the rights of nurses and wives," she said. Further industrial action could include work bans but for now the pink campaign will not impact the delivery of health care, Ms Beaman said. Health Minister Tim Nicholls said the state government has made two offers to the union, including double time for overtime and an 11 per cent over three-year wage increase. "We believe that delivers on our election commitment to make sure that our Queensland nurses and midwives have nation-leading wages and conditions," he told reporters in Rockhampton. Mr Nicholls said the government will continue negotiating with the union over the next 10 days.
West Australian
05-06-2025
- Health
- West Australian
Nurses warn pink protest for better pay could escalate
Nurses are expected to escalate their protest for better pay over the coming weeks as union members take industrial action for the first time in two decades. Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union members began protected industrial action on Thursday, wearing pink into hospitals to voice their demands. The 45,000-strong union is demanding the Queensland government follow through on its 2024 election commitment of "nation-leading" wages for the health workforce. The state government's public sector wages offer is currently three per cent in April 2025, 2.5 per cent in April 2026 and 2027, and an extra three per cent in December 2027. The union said 66.7 per cent of nurses and midwives would be paid less than their Victorian counterparts by the end of the agreement. It is demanding that the current offer be increased. "You have a government saying that they love nurses and they respect nurses, that is not being shown in the offers being put forward," union secretary Sarah Beaman told reporters in Brisbane on Thursday. "We are not being unreasonable. "We are not seeking a pat on the head, all (nurses) want is an offer that actually maintains the (government's) commitment." The first stage of the industrial action is wearing pink to start conversations about the union's demands but Ms Beaman warned it will likely escalate if demands are not met. "Activity launched today will escalate in the coming weeks, if the state government continues to threaten the rights of nurses and wives," she said. Further industrial action could include work bans but for now the pink campaign will not impact the delivery of health care, Ms Beaman said. Health Minister Tim Nicholls said the state government has made two offers to the union, including double time for overtime and an 11 per cent over three-year wage increase. "We believe that delivers on our election commitment to make sure that our Queensland nurses and midwives have nation-leading wages and conditions," he told reporters in Rockhampton. Mr Nicholls said the government will continue negotiating with the union over the next 10 days.
Perth Now
05-06-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
Nurses warn pink protest for better pay could escalate
Nurses are expected to escalate their protest for better pay over the coming weeks as union members take industrial action for the first time in two decades. Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union members began protected industrial action on Thursday, wearing pink into hospitals to voice their demands. The 45,000-strong union is demanding the Queensland government follow through on its 2024 election commitment of "nation-leading" wages for the health workforce. The state government's public sector wages offer is currently three per cent in April 2025, 2.5 per cent in April 2026 and 2027, and an extra three per cent in December 2027. The union said 66.7 per cent of nurses and midwives would be paid less than their Victorian counterparts by the end of the agreement. It is demanding that the current offer be increased. "You have a government saying that they love nurses and they respect nurses, that is not being shown in the offers being put forward," union secretary Sarah Beaman told reporters in Brisbane on Thursday. "We are not being unreasonable. "We are not seeking a pat on the head, all (nurses) want is an offer that actually maintains the (government's) commitment." The first stage of the industrial action is wearing pink to start conversations about the union's demands but Ms Beaman warned it will likely escalate if demands are not met. "Activity launched today will escalate in the coming weeks, if the state government continues to threaten the rights of nurses and wives," she said. Further industrial action could include work bans but for now the pink campaign will not impact the delivery of health care, Ms Beaman said. Health Minister Tim Nicholls said the state government has made two offers to the union, including double time for overtime and an 11 per cent over three-year wage increase. "We believe that delivers on our election commitment to make sure that our Queensland nurses and midwives have nation-leading wages and conditions," he told reporters in Rockhampton. Mr Nicholls said the government will continue negotiating with the union over the next 10 days.
