Congratulations to all Queensland public sector nurses and midwives, who overwhelmingly voted up the EB11 enterprise agreement. Here are the results:
- Queensland Health - 92% who participated voted 'yes'.
- Department of Education - 96% who participated voted 'yes'.
After months of hard work, your new Enterprise Agreement (EB11) was certified by the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission on 7 December 2022. As the only union and representative for nurses and midwives at the bargaining table, the QNMU worked hard to negotiate a suitable agreement, one that recognises your dedication and professionalism.
The agreement includes:
- the most significant wage increase from any public sector employer in the country (4% for first year, 4% for second, and 3% for third year, plus Cost of Living Adjustment payments)
- commitments around annual leave not being deducted on public holidays
- an increase to Sunday penalty rates
- fatigue leave for remote call
- the right for part-time employees to have their contracted hours reviewed
- and more.
Read a summary of the improvements in your EB11 agreement
Click here to read the full EB11 agreement
What happens now?
Queensland Health nurses and midwives received a 4% increase to their wages and current allowances from 21 December 2022, back paid to 1 April 2022.
Nurses and midwives will also be able to access new provisions within the EA, including:
- commitments around annual leave not being deducted on public holidays
- an increase to Sunday penalty rates
- fatigue leave for remote call, and
- the right for part-time employees to have their contracted hours reviewed.
Queensland Health has provided their planned timeline showing when various entitlements should be implemented. Click here to read more.
Congratulations to all QNMU members for securing this agreement
Without members' direct actions to improve the government's wages policy and to put the agreement out for consultation after unacceptable delays, we wouldn't be where we are today.
We believe this is a good agreement. Of course, there will always be things to improve, which is why bargaining happens every couple of years. But for now, we encourage you to read what's in your new agreement and familiarise yourself with your new wages and conditions.