Queensland nurses and midwives have ramped up protected industrial action in their fight for improved wages and conditions.
Members of the Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union (QNMU) moved to Stage 2 action earlier this week. This includes not undertaking overtime unless there has been a minimum of four hours’ notice, taking the full period of all breaks, not entering Medicare details at patient admissions, not filing paperwork, not attending management meetings, and not cleaning or making beds.
QNMU Secretary Sarah Beaman said the union’s members had been left with no choice as enterprise bargaining negotiations with the LNP government have reached a stalemate.
“We have spent more than 150 hours in negotiations outlining a pathway for the government to ensure Queensland recruits, retains and respects its nurses and midwives,” Ms Beaman said.
“Our members are furious at the repeated delays that have led us to this point.”
Ms Beaman says nurses and midwives are holding Queensland’s health system together through their “sheer heart, skill and relentless effort”. Without them, it doesn’t function.
The only way to make the government accountable was taking stronger Protected Industrial Action (PIA).
“Throughout this action, there will be some inconvenience, but the community’s safety will never be at risk,” Ms Beaman said.
“The actions are not strikes or walking off the job. The actions will impact Queensland Health operations in a way that do not compromise patient safety.”
“This is about making sure the government takes us seriously.
“If we do nothing, there simply will not be enough nurses and midwives to safely staff our expanding hospitals and care for you and your loved ones.”
Ms Beaman said government could break the stalemate immediately by bringing a genuine offer to the table in response to the QNMU’s pay and conditions claim, which includes a 13% pay rise over three years.
