The Guardian 7 June, 2006
Nurses stitch up 25 percent
Nursing as a career has suddenly become a "more attractive option" in Queensland after nurses in the state won a 25 per cent pay rise over three years.
Nurses working in Queensland public hospitals voted overwhelmingly to accept a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA) which provides general ward nurses with a 20 percent pay rise, after compounding, between March 2006 and December 2008.
Added to a four percent interim rise awarded in October last year, the total pay rise for most Queensland nurses is 25 per cent (compounded) over the space of three years and three months.
Queensland Nurses Union Secretary, Gay Hawksworth, said much of the new agreement is a response to the recent Forster Review of Queensland Health, which found serious morale problems amongst nursing staff.
"The improvements, including the significant pay rises contained in the agreement are designed to make Queensland Health a more attractive employer for nurses and to better value the vital contribution nurses make to the running of the State’s public health system."
Under the new EBA general ward nurses will receive a $10,971.00 increase, taking their annual base rate of pay to $64,496.00 by December 2008. They get an immediate pay rise of about $36.00 per week, back-dated to March 27, 2006.
"But the emphasis should not just be on pay, as important as that is", said Ms Hawkswroth.
"There are other important improvements that will make nursing in Queensland Health a more attractive career option, especially the improvements in professional and career development.
As well as the significant pay rises, the new agreement also contains a range of other improvements in working conditions including:
Paid maternity and adoption leave — an increase from six weeks to 12 weeks paid leave, effective from July 1, 2005.
Pro-rata long service leave after seven years.
Increases in allowances — for example, night shift allowance for most hospital nurses will increase from 17 to 20 per cent.
Better professional development arrangements.
"The jump in the night shift allowance should also make this very unappealing shift more palatable and assist in putting rosters together", said Ms Hawksworth.
"On balance I think Queensland Health, Queensland nurses and the Queensland people will be better off because of this agreement and it should assist the rebuilding of our public hospital and health system."