Nurses fought back against their union for better pay. Here’s what’s now on the table

Victoria’s nurses and midwives will consider a 28.4 per cent pay rise over four years after an in-principle agreement was hammered out between their union and the Allan government.

The new offer – which follows 48 days of protected industrial action – does not include the cash payments that were part of an earlier rejected offer. The payments have instead been absorbed into the overall wage increase.

Nurses and midwives at a statewide union meeting in May.Credit: Joe Armao

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, which has about 100,000 Victorian members, said the new deal included allowances for a change of ward, improved allowances for being on-call, better night shift penalties for permanent staff and a 92 per cent increase to the qualifications allowance by the end of the deal.

A right to disconnect clause – so nurses and midwives are not continually contacted to work shifts they are not seeking – will also be included, as will better access to flexible work arrangements.

The qualifying period for parental leave will drop from six months to zero, and interstate public-sector nurses and midwives will have service recognised for leave entitlements if relocating to Victoria.

The offer is an in-principle agreement subject to both endorsement by union members and approval by state cabinet.

Lisa Fitzpatrick, the Victorian secretary of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation.Credit: Penny Stephens

“We believe this offer protects our current career structure and will significantly help to retain and recruit a permanent nursing and midwifery workforce and rebuild our health system,” Victorian branch secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick said.

Union members will meet on Wednesday in Melbourne and at eight regional centres to vote on the deal.

Last month, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation’s leadership was left reeling when the nurses and midwives rejected a deal that Fitzpatrick said at the time could be equivalent to an increase of 18 to 23 per cent over four years.

A clearly rattled Fitzpatrick had expected the offer – which had included the cash payments for all and new allowances – would be accepted by union members.

Union members cited a lack of certainty around the wage increases, which would be affected by a pending Fair Work Commission decision on pay rises for aged care nurses.

“At no point could they tell us clearly what is the percentage yearly wage increase for the average nurse,” Michael, a nurse at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, said at the time.

The union on Saturday said the latest offer did not include the cash payments, in response to feedback from members.

“This money has been included in the wage increases and contributes to the overall 28.4 per cent wage increase and other improvements,” the union said in a press release.

The union said the latest offer included the gender equity increase the Fair Work Commission expert panel had forecast in its aged care work value case and provided dates for all increases.

The Allan government said it was pleased negotiations had reached this stage with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation to deliver “a fair deal to our hardworking nurses and midwives”.

“Victoria’s nursing and midwifery workforce is 88.2 per cent female and has historically been undervalued because of assumptions based on gender,” a government spokesperson said.

“Our offer will address this gender inequity.”

Last month, the state’s police union struck a new pay deal with Victoria Police, paving the way for a nine-day fortnight for frontline officers and boosting wages by an average of 4 per cent annually over the next four years.

However, paramedics and Ambulance Victoria are still to reach an agreement while the government juggles its massive debt alongside pay demands.

Firefighters represented by the Peter Marshall-led United Firefighters Union also remain in a long-running pay dispute with Fire Rescue Victoria.

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