Nurses warn pink protest for better pay could escalate

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Nurses warn pink protest for better pay could escalate

Nurses are expected to escalate their protest for better pay over the coming weeks as union members take industrial action for the first time in two decades.

Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union members began protected industrial action on Thursday, wearing pink into hospitals to voice their demands.

The 45,000-strong union is demanding the Queensland government follow through on its 2024 election commitment of “nation-leading” wages for the health workforce.

The state government’s public sector wages offer is currently three per cent in April 2025, 2.5 per cent in April 2026 and 2027, and an extra three per cent in December 2027.

The union said 66.7 per cent of nurses and midwives would be paid less than their Victorian counterparts by the end of the agreement.

It is demanding that the current offer be increased.

“You have a government saying that they love nurses and they respect nurses, that is not being shown in the offers being put forward,” union secretary Sarah Beaman told reporters in Brisbane on Thursday.

“We are not being unreasonable.

“We are not seeking a pat on the head, all (nurses) want is an offer that actually maintains the (government’s) commitment.”

The first stage of the industrial action is wearing pink to start conversations about the union’s demands but Ms Beaman warned it will likely escalate if demands are not met.

“Activity launched today will escalate in the coming weeks, if the state government continues to threaten the rights of nurses and wives,” she said.

Further industrial action could include work bans but for now the pink campaign will not impact the delivery of health care, Ms Beaman said.

Health Minister Tim Nicholls said the state government has made two offers to the union, including double time for overtime and an 11 per cent over three-year wage increase.

“We believe that delivers on our election commitment to make sure that our Queensland nurses and midwives have nation-leading wages and conditions,” he told reporters in Rockhampton.

Mr Nicholls said the government will continue negotiating with the union over the next 10 days.

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