Pay boost for Victorian nurses

Victorian public sector nurses will get pay rises of up to 26 per cent to bring their wages into line with those in New South Wales, setting the scene for union wage claims this year.

Public-sector nurses across Victoria will start to get pay rises of up to 26 per cent from this month, as their wages are brought in to line with NSW counterparts.

Mid-level bedside hospital nurses will see weekly gross pay rise from $1400 to about $1600, with different staff ­categories subject to varying increases.

Most nurses are in categories subject to increases of between 8 and 12 per cent.

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The condition of net pay parity with NSW nurses was included in an enterprise agreement secured with the Andrews Government in 2016. The deal also locks in annual 3 per cent pay rises until 2022.

State secretary of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Lisa Fitzpatrick said the deal had also led to private-sector staff getting wage increases, which will start to flow through from the first pay cycle of this month.

“It is time to recognise and reward the work done,” she said.

State secretary of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Lisa Fitzpatrick has welcomed Victoria’s wages equality with NSW. Picture: Kylie Else

Ms Fitzpatrick said “the nurses in Albury-Wodonga will be much happier” due to the fact people with jobs on the south side of the border who had been doing exactly the same job as those in NSW had previously been paid hundreds of dollars a week less.

Pay rises are across the health sector, including in public mental health and aged-care nursing roles.

Tatura Hospital nurse Hollie Purton said with a big family, the wages boost was great news.

“No doubt the money will be spent on my kids,” she said.

Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas has urged wages restraint. Picture: AAP

The full impact of some of the pay deals the Andrews Government struck last term are starting to take shape this year, with teachers also set for another pay rise this month.

With a tightening state Budget, Treasurer Tim Pallas has called for public-sector wages restraint and said ­expectations “have to be tempered to the time”.

However, several major unions have brushed aside the Treasurer’s comments and said generous increases for staff — including nurses, ­firefighters and teachers — should be used as a starting point for new EBA ­discussions.

This year, the Andrews Government will have to sign new workplace agreements with unions representing workers including paramedics, firefighters, train drivers and police.

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