First strike in decades on the cards for public nurses, midwives

Public nurses and midwives will strike for the first time in decades if key demands are not met by the Queensland government.

The health workers wore pink today and aired their concerns about pay and conditions on the job.

“The level of frustration is incredibly high,” Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union secretary Sarah Beaman said from an event in West End.

Secretary Sarah Beaman with Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union members in West End on Thursday.Credit: Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union

“Our members will be making their feelings heard … they’ll be talking to patients and the public daily.”

It is the first protected industrial action against Queensland Health by the union since 2002.

Alongside pay, concerns flagged include reported plans to remove protections that guarantee parental leave and flexible work arrangements, and allow work to be contracted out to external providers.

The union says wait times will become worse and more nurses will leave the public system if the government doesn’t agree to acceptable terms.

“None of us really wanted to be here, this is not ideal, however, nurses and midwives will not be pressured to agree to a subpar offer,” Beaman said.

“Activity launched today will escalate … if the government continues to threaten the rights of nurses and midwives.”

This masthead understands nurses and midwives will likely strike within weeks if negotiations do not progress.

Speaking from Rockhampton on Thursday, Health Minister Tim Nicholls told reporters he believes two offers already put to the union would deliver the best pay and conditions in the country.

“I just want to say again, thank you to the hardworking nurses and midwives,” he said.

“They’ve been instrumental in helping to deliver some of the outcomes including improvement in ramping and elective surgery wait lists.

“We’ve made two offers … we believe we’ve fulfilled our commitment, and we are valuing our nurses and midwives by ensuring that they get nation leading wages and conditions.”

He said negotiations will continue.

“We’ve treated the representative organisations, including unions, with respect. We have sat down around the table with them.”

The union says patient care will take priority if workers do walk off the job.