NSW Government and NSW Nurses and Midwives Association agree to interim pay rise

Thousands of nurses finally have an answer from the government about increasing their wages after they walked off the job earlier this month.

NSW nurses have come to an interim agreement with the state government after a lengthy wage dispute which led to nurses walking off the job for 24 hours.

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park confirmed a proposal had been accepted nearly a week after members of the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association went on strike for one day on September 24.

The Industrial Relation Commission (IRC) had recommended nurses receive an interim 3 per cent pay increase and industrial action cease as negotiations continued.

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said an interim agreement has been met following the ongoing nurses wage dispute. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Nurse Midwife Ashley Townsend was one of thousands of nurses who went on strike last week. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

“I am pleased to confirm that both the Government and the Nurses and Midwives’ Association have accepted the recommendation of the IRC,” Mr Park said on Monday.

“As recommended by the IRC, NSW Health will begin paying an interim 3 per cent wage increase effective 1 July and that no industrial action affecting patients will take place while the discussions and/or arbitration is progressing.

“We look forward to these discussions and ongoing negotiations with the Association.”

The agreement comes after the union has continually called on NSW Premier Chris Minns to implement a 15 per cent pay rise for NSW nurses.

NSWNMA Acting General Secretary Michael Whaites said the union’s public sector members voted to accept the IRC’s recommendations.

Mr Whaites said the union will now enter four weeks of “intensive negotiations” with the state government and Ministry of Health.

“We are committed to pursuing the best possible pay and conditions outcome for our members, including things like 30 per cent night shift penalty, to bring us into line with other states,” he said.

“As a show of our good faith from the government, public sector nurses and midwives will receive an interim 3 per cent wage increase, backdated to 1 July 2024.

“During the negotiations, there is an agreement ensuring nurses and midwives can focus on patient care and not other duties that should be performed by other classifications, where those duties have currently ceased.

“We look forward to robust and productive discussions taking place with the state government over the coming weeks.”

NSW Nurses Hayley Sargeson, Talei Williams and Stacey Pattman will soon be getting an interim 3 per cent pay rise. Picture: NewsWire / David Swift

The union has been campaigning for a 15 per cent pay rise for NSW nurses, who they say are the lowest paid in the country.

The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows the average salary for a registered nurse in Queensland ranges from between $79,058 to $106,144.

Meanwhile, the average salary in nurse in NSW range from $69,810 to $98,014.

Victorian nurses have capped salaries at just below $130,000, making them the highest paid in the country.

The state government had earlier offered a three-year 10.5 per cent pay rise to NSW public sector workers, which would have included nurses.

Originally published as NSW Government and NSW Nurses and Midwives Association agree to interim pay rise