QUEENSLAND’S nurses and midwives have intensified their campaign for better wages, launching the second stage of protected industrial action as part of an ongoing pay dispute with the State Government.
The Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union (QNMU) is calling for a 13 per cent wage increase over three years – rejecting the Government’s current offer of 11 per cent over the same period.
The union argues the proposal falls short of maintaining Queensland’s long-standing position as the best-paying state for nurses.
The latest phase of industrial action will see QNMU members withdraw from a range of non-clinical duties across public hospitals and health services.
These include entering Medicare data, filing, making beds, emptying bins, restocking medical supplies, and attending non-essential meetings.
QNMU Secretary Sarah Beaman said the action was not intended to impact patient care but to highlight unsustainable workloads.
“Nurses and midwives will continue delivering hands-on care,” Ms Beaman said.
“But we are drawing a line – our members are exhausted and stretched thin.
“This government has left us with no choice.”
Union members will also take their full entitled breaks and refuse overtime unless given at least four hours’ notice.
Ms Beaman said the new measures aimed to demonstrate how much unpaid and unrecognised work Queensland’s nurses and midwives perform to keep the system running.
Negotiations have now dragged on for more than six months.
Health Minister Tim Nicholls defended the Government’s offer, calling it generous.
He confirmed the dispute had been referred to the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission for conciliation.
Premier David Crisafulli said the Government was negotiating in “good faith”, but the union has warned industrial action will escalate if their calls for fair recognition and pay equity are not met.
