Qld politics: Nurses press ahead with strike vote amid stalemate with state

Queensland nurses have launched a strike ballot after being told they’ll lose two months’ backpay if they take protected industrial action.

Queensland Nurses and Midwives' Union secretary Sarah Beaman

Queensland’s nurses and midwives are in a standoff with the state government, launching a strike ballot this week after being told they’ll lose two months’ backpay if they take protected industrial action.

Furious health workers have accused the government of betrayal over its latest and final EB12 pay and conditions offer, with the government warned the fallout will echo across upcoming wage deals for police, firefighters and teachers.

The government on Monday confirmed a higher wage offer was not possible as it did not coincide with the commitment “respect taxpayers’ money” and doubled down on its threat to strip workers of two months of back pay if they dare take protected industrial action.

Correspondence to the QNMU from Queensland Health Acting Director General Nick Steele, seen by the Courier-Mail, stated that the government would not improve the EB12 offer that has been rejected by QNMU members.

QNMU secretary Sarah Beaman said the offer of a 3 per cent increase in the first year, and 2.5 per cent in the following two years, did nothing to respect nurses and midwives.

“The government’s EB12 offer, no matter how they try to spin it, does nothing to recruit, retain and respect Queensland’s nurses and midwives,” she said.

“The state government’s threats to remove our backplay for daring to take protected industrial action around a dismal EB12 offer are an insult to the frontline public nurses and midwives who stood firm on the frontline of Queensland Health during Covid, and every day.

“These threats contravene Queensland Health nurse and midwives’ deep commitment to protect our patients, aged care residents, colleagues, and the future of free healthcare in Queensland.”

The QNMU is the first of several unions that have negotiated a pay deal with the new LNP government.

Health Minister Tim Nicholls

It is expected the offer to the QNMU will act as a foundation for all police, firefighters and teacher wage negotiations later this year.

Queensland Council of Unions secretary Jacqueline King said QNMU negotiations were not a good sign of things to come.

“They'll be taking a similar approach if not worse to other workers, particularly non frontline workers,” she said.

“Saying they cant afford it, that’s like a small-business owner saying they won’t pay penalty rates.

“They’re going to have to find the money and they’re going to have to pay up otherwise the situation is not going to look good across the sector.”

Ms King said the government’s final offer of about 2.6 per cent per year was “way off the mark” following a nationwide average agreement of 5.4 per cent in December.

She warned that if the June state budget showed different treatment of public sectors rather than a focus on improving the centralised wage policy created under the former Labor government, it would “cause dissent” between frontline workers.
Queensland Health protected industrial action would impact non direct clinical health care and could include nurses and midwives forgoing data entry and admin work, phone answering, cleaning and making beds, attending meetings, collecting or transporting patient meals and moving beds and equipment.

Members surveys across the state during the negotiation period showed 90 per cent of the 50,000 strong union was prepared to strike.

Health Minister Tim Nicholls said the government had offered nurses and midwives nation-leading wages.

“I know our nurses and midwives do a terrific job,” he said.

“We have remained committed to respectful dialogue and we will continue to negotiate in good faith with the unions.”