QNMU, Bundaberg nurses call on Cameron Dick to increase pay
Bundaberg ‘s frontline public nurses and midwives are calling on the State Government to go above its offered pay increase, as a shocking new survey reveals the work hours nurses are giving away every year.
Bundaberg
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Bundaberg nurses and midwives will today meet to call for what they say will be a fairer pay rise than the one offered by the State Government.
Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union (QNMU) Organiser Amanda Bargenquast said local QNMU members, with the support of other workers, would today meet to demand the Queensland Government lift the state wages policy to 5.1 per cent.
In a statement issued to the Bundaberg NewsMail, Ms Bargenquast said this increase would meet the rising cost of living – and ensure nurses and midwives received the wage they deserved.
The State Government is currently offering Queensland Health nurses and midwives a 2.5 per cent increase.
The QNMU is currently negotiating a new enterprise agreement for Queensland Health nurses and midwives and have secured in principle agreement on a number of items outside of wages.
“Queensland nurses and midwives have and continue to work extremely hard to keep Queenslanders safe while the system strains under intense pressure,” Ms Bargenquast said.
“This workforce deserves more than praise for these efforts. Queensland Health nurses and midwives deserve a 5.1 per cent pay increase that meets the rising cost of living, not the 2.5 per cent the State Government has offered.”
The push comes as a survey revealed the dollar value of unpaid overtime being carried out by the state’s nurses.
Ms Bargenquast said the QNMU estimated the Queensland Health nurses and midwives surveyed had performed unpaid overtime worth an average of more than $11,000 per staff member over 12 months.
Around 900 QNMU members took part in the QNMU online survey.
“Queensland Health nurses and midwives keep us safe, they deserve fair pay to remain on the frontline,” Ms Bargenquast said.
Thousands of QH nurses and midwives are expected to attend rolling meetings throughout the state in coming days to call on Treasurer Cameron Dick to include a fair wages offer in the 2022/2023 state budget.
Bundaberg QH nurses and midwives will meet today at 12.30pm the Bundaberg War Nurses Memorial Park at 8 Takalvan Street, Bundaberg.
As part of the QNMU’s campaign for fair wages and conditions, over 5,500 QNMU members have already emailed Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick to demand a pay rise.
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