Victorian nurses and midwives back delivery of 28pc pay deal

Thousands of public sector nurses and midwives in Victoria have voted up a revised Allan government pay deal offer.

Victorian Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas says nurses are getting a ‘once-in-a-generation’ pay increase. Picture: NewsWire / David Geraghty

Australia’s biggest union has secured pay rises totalling 28.4 per cent over four years for thousands of public sector nurses and midwives in Victoria, after a revised Allan government offer was endorsed by meetings of rank-and-file members.

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation members voted on Wednesday in support of the proposed agreement, which followed 51 days of protected industrial action and the surprise rejection in May of a less generous government offer.

The government and the union said the agreement would deliver pay rises totalling 28.4 per cent by November 2027 and more than 70 improvements to allowances, penalties and conditions.

It includes a right to disconnect clause; a change of ward allowance to compensate nurses and midwives when they are moved from base wards; improved night shift penalties for permanent nurses and midwives; a reduction in the qualifying ­period for parental leave to zero; and recognition of service for interstate public sector nurses and midwives relocated to Victoria.

The right to disconnect clause sets out a new process for employers to follow to fill shifts to ensure nurses and midwives are not continually contacted to work shifts they are not seeking.

The government said the agreement delivered a “massive pay increase for hard-working nurses and midwives”, with Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas calling it a “once-in-a-generation” wage rise.

Premier Jacinta Allan said the government was “proud to give nurses and midwives better pay and improved conditions – it’s absolutely what they deserve”.

ANMF Victorian branch secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick said members “asked us to go back to the negotiating table … we have done that and secured a significant gender equity wage increase for a nursing and midwifery workforce that is 89 per cent female”.