You would have heard in the news today that thousands of Queensland nurses and midwives are taking industrial action. It's the first time in 20 years that actions like this has been taken, and it's because they're angry. They say that the government has promised nation leading wages and that they haven't been delivered. So they're taking a stand. We're being joined now by Sarah Beaman, secretary for the Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union. Thanks for your time, Sarah. Welcome back to afternoons.

You would have heard in the news today that thousands of Queensland nurses and midwives are taking industrial action. It's the first time in 20 years that actions like this has been taken, and it's because they're angry. They say that the government has promised nation leading wages and that they haven't been delivered. So they're taking a stand. We're being joined now by Sarah Beaman, secretary for the Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union. Thanks for your time, Sarah. Welcome back to afternoons.

Thank you for having me.

Thank you for having me.

Okay. It's not insignificant to get to this point, Sarah, and to take industrial action, as I said, the first of its kind in two decades. What led to such a strong vote in favour of taking action?

Okay. It's not insignificant to get to this point, Sarah, and to take industrial action, as I said, the first of its kind in two decades. What led to such a strong vote in favour of taking action?

It's the combination of the fact that the government is refusing to honour their election commitment to nation leading wages and conditions, but for the two consecutive offers they put forward, they have clauses in there that are attempting to erode the basic rights and entitlements for the 55,000 frontline public nurses and midwives.

It's the combination of the fact that the government is refusing to honour their election commitment to nation leading wages and conditions, but for the two consecutive offers they put forward, they have clauses in there that are attempting to erode the basic rights and entitlements for the 55,000 frontline public nurses and midwives.

I'll get to that negotiation in a second, but I just wanted to be clear about what the industrial action looks like today. I think when people hear nurses and strikes, they're worried that patients are going to be impacted. So what does this action look like?

I'll get to that negotiation in a second, but I just wanted to be clear about what the industrial action looks like today. I think when people hear nurses and strikes, they're worried that patients are going to be impacted. So what does this action look like?

Look, any industrial action that the sham members undertake throughout the course of, um, these this period is not going to directly affect patient care, patient safety. Um, so the patient safety remains paramount, particularly in this stage one activity. It will not affect patient care. It is about wearing pink. It is about turning heads. It's about having conversations. They'll be handing out information and they will be sharing with the public and consumers what is happening, why they need nation leading wages and conditions, and why the erosion of conditions and entitlements is problematic.

Look, any industrial action that the sham members undertake throughout the course of, um, these this period is not going to directly affect patient care, patient safety. Um, so the patient safety remains paramount, particularly in this stage one activity. It will not affect patient care. It is about wearing pink. It is about turning heads. It's about having conversations. They'll be handing out information and they will be sharing with the public and consumers what is happening, why they need nation leading wages and conditions, and why the erosion of conditions and entitlements is problematic.

And the stage one action that you just outlined is that going to be done by nurses while they're actually on the job, or are there additional union members going into the workplace with those? The pink on and handing out the pamphlets and doing the talking.

And the stage one action that you just outlined is that going to be done by nurses while they're actually on the job, or are there additional union members going into the workplace with those? The pink on and handing out the pamphlets and doing the talking.

Are nurses and midwives on the floor. Frontline nurses and midwives will be taking this action. There will be a very strong coloring up. Um, it's also there will be officials from the Qmu supporting the members out in the workplace with distribution of material. Our members are ready to go. They are, um, wanting to have their say, and they're wanting to really highlight to members of the public why it is so important, um, that we actually have nurses and midwives coming to Queensland, staying in Queensland, because this is about safe delivery of care to Queenslanders.

Are nurses and midwives on the floor. Frontline nurses and midwives will be taking this action. There will be a very strong coloring up. Um, it's also there will be officials from the Qmu supporting the members out in the workplace with distribution of material. Our members are ready to go. They are, um, wanting to have their say, and they're wanting to really highlight to members of the public why it is so important, um, that we actually have nurses and midwives coming to Queensland, staying in Queensland, because this is about safe delivery of care to Queenslanders.

Okay. Let's get to the negotiation and sort of where that's at at the moment. The Health Minister, Tim Nicholls, was asked about this this morning and of course he thanked nurses, as we all do, for the work that that you do before. He then went on to say that he thinks that the government has actually put forward a decent offer. Have a listen.

Okay. Let's get to the negotiation and sort of where that's at at the moment. The Health Minister, Tim Nicholls, was asked about this this morning and of course he thanked nurses, as we all do, for the work that that you do before. He then went on to say that he thinks that the government has actually put forward a decent offer. Have a listen.

We've made two offers, two offers to them. Um, the second offer introduces an Australia first, including double time for overtime for nurses and midwives. We've increased the state wages policy to take into account the government election commitment, including um 11% increase in wages over the life of the enterprise bargaining agreement. We believe that delivers on our election commitment to make sure that our Queensland nurses and midwives have nation leading wages and conditions, so we'll continue to negotiate with them. We have more rounds of negotiations, as I understand it, um, planned over the next ten days or so.

We've made two offers, two offers to them. Um, the second offer introduces an Australia first, including double time for overtime for nurses and midwives. We've increased the state wages policy to take into account the government election commitment, including um 11% increase in wages over the life of the enterprise bargaining agreement. We believe that delivers on our election commitment to make sure that our Queensland nurses and midwives have nation leading wages and conditions, so we'll continue to negotiate with them. We have more rounds of negotiations, as I understand it, um, planned over the next ten days or so.

Yeah. Sorry about the audio. They're not being terribly clear, Sarah, but I'm sure you're well aware of what the health minister said today. Double time for overtime, 11% increase over the life of the EBA. Is that still a position? That is not enough for the union members?

Yeah. Sorry about the audio. They're not being terribly clear, Sarah, but I'm sure you're well aware of what the health minister said today. Double time for overtime, 11% increase over the life of the EBA. Is that still a position? That is not enough for the union members?

I think it's important to understand the fine print with what the government is putting forward. And that fine print is it's actually not over time, um, for all nurses and midwives, they're actually putting a number of caveats that come out with that second offer. It was only for those between grade three and nine. Um, it's only for continuous shift workers. And it would only come in from May 2027. So it actually excludes a large proportion of the workforce. Now when other frontline emergency services and male dominated industries are getting double time for all overtime, regardless of their classification, and they're getting it right now. There is absolutely no reason that a highly feminized workforce, um, should be actually not getting the same as their male counterparts in this space. This is a gender parity issue. So, um, look, the fine print on that. And we've actually seen that with the wages and conditions too. There's a number of fine print things that people need to look at. The offer from the government will not be nation leading for around 66.7% of Queensland Health nurses and midwives. So it isn't nation leading. And for some of the grade seven, our our nurse unit managers and our midwifery unit managers who are really under the pump and we really struggle to recruit and retain into those areas. They are going to be $4 an hour worse off by the end of eb12 than their Queensland counterparts, even with the additional 3%. So it isn't nation leading.

I think it's important to understand the fine print with what the government is putting forward. And that fine print is it's actually not over time, um, for all nurses and midwives, they're actually putting a number of caveats that come out with that second offer. It was only for those between grade three and nine. Um, it's only for continuous shift workers. And it would only come in from May 2027. So it actually excludes a large proportion of the workforce. Now when other frontline emergency services and male dominated industries are getting double time for all overtime, regardless of their classification, and they're getting it right now. There is absolutely no reason that a highly feminized workforce, um, should be actually not getting the same as their male counterparts in this space. This is a gender parity issue. So, um, look, the fine print on that. And we've actually seen that with the wages and conditions too. There's a number of fine print things that people need to look at. The offer from the government will not be nation leading for around 66.7% of Queensland Health nurses and midwives. So it isn't nation leading. And for some of the grade seven, our our nurse unit managers and our midwifery unit managers who are really under the pump and we really struggle to recruit and retain into those areas. They are going to be $4 an hour worse off by the end of eb12 than their Queensland counterparts, even with the additional 3%. So it isn't nation leading.

Yeah. And that's I think, are the reason why it's vital to hear both sides of this equation, Because there's only so much you get in news headlines. There's only so much you get with the detail, obviously, of a negotiation that happens between the government and any union, not just yours. So I hear what you're saying. I guess the question will now move to what the next negotiation will look like. And it sounds to me like there are some areas that the union is just not willing to budge on.

Yeah. And that's I think, are the reason why it's vital to hear both sides of this equation, Because there's only so much you get in news headlines. There's only so much you get with the detail, obviously, of a negotiation that happens between the government and any union, not just yours. So I hear what you're saying. I guess the question will now move to what the next negotiation will look like. And it sounds to me like there are some areas that the union is just not willing to budge on.

I would actually say that there is a number of areas that Queensland Health isn't willing to budge on. We put forward a lot of items that had absolutely no cost associated or low cost. They were not even included. These were affirmative positions around supporting flexible work and workloads and student placements. I think the key that I really want to get across to listeners is that this negotiation isn't about money. This is about creating a workforce, a sustainable workforce that recruits nurses and midwives to Queensland and retains them. Now, if we don't have nation leading wages and conditions, we will not be a national or international drawcard for skilled nurses and midwives. We will see less nurses and midwives in the public health system, and that means Queenslanders will not be getting the care that they need at a time when we have unprecedented demand and high workloads and we already have people burning out. This is actually about the ability to deliver care at a high level for every Queenslander.

I would actually say that there is a number of areas that Queensland Health isn't willing to budge on. We put forward a lot of items that had absolutely no cost associated or low cost. They were not even included. These were affirmative positions around supporting flexible work and workloads and student placements. I think the key that I really want to get across to listeners is that this negotiation isn't about money. This is about creating a workforce, a sustainable workforce that recruits nurses and midwives to Queensland and retains them. Now, if we don't have nation leading wages and conditions, we will not be a national or international drawcard for skilled nurses and midwives. We will see less nurses and midwives in the public health system, and that means Queenslanders will not be getting the care that they need at a time when we have unprecedented demand and high workloads and we already have people burning out. This is actually about the ability to deliver care at a high level for every Queenslander.

Do you have faith that you'll get there?

Do you have faith that you'll get there?

I do have faith we'll get there because the government keeps talking about that. They value nurses, they care for nurses. They want to put an offer forward for nurses. We need that in writing and we need that offer in writing that doesn't have those little caveats. I don't think you would come across any Queenslander. I personally haven't that thinks nurses and midwives get paid too much, and most nurses and midwives are the most trusted professions. They are trusted to save lives every day. They need to be trusted to know what the solutions are. And they are really good problem solvers. They know how to fix the system. And this is about investing in nurses and midwives, because that invests in the care of Queenslanders and that will save money in the long term. The economic value of nurses and midwives needs to be recognised here.

I do have faith we'll get there because the government keeps talking about that. They value nurses, they care for nurses. They want to put an offer forward for nurses. We need that in writing and we need that offer in writing that doesn't have those little caveats. I don't think you would come across any Queenslander. I personally haven't that thinks nurses and midwives get paid too much, and most nurses and midwives are the most trusted professions. They are trusted to save lives every day. They need to be trusted to know what the solutions are. And they are really good problem solvers. They know how to fix the system. And this is about investing in nurses and midwives, because that invests in the care of Queenslanders and that will save money in the long term. The economic value of nurses and midwives needs to be recognised here.

You, Sarah, do you also, you know, come from the position, though, that you can understand that the government has to balance the way the negotiation ends with your union and how it will then impact negotiations they have with all the other unions?

You, Sarah, do you also, you know, come from the position, though, that you can understand that the government has to balance the way the negotiation ends with your union and how it will then impact negotiations they have with all the other unions?

I absolutely appreciate that point. Um, I understand that they have a number of negotiations to undertake. Uh, the fact is, um, nurses and midwives deserve to have their commitment to nation leading wages and conditions honoured, and they deserve to not have their conditions and entitlements eroded. And they deserve back pay. And they're not huge asks.

I absolutely appreciate that point. Um, I understand that they have a number of negotiations to undertake. Uh, the fact is, um, nurses and midwives deserve to have their commitment to nation leading wages and conditions honoured, and they deserve to not have their conditions and entitlements eroded. And they deserve back pay. And they're not huge asks.

And before I let you go, if a deal can't be reached over the next couple of weeks, you have said that the industrial action will increase. Does that potentially mean we'll see nurses walking off the job, or is that a last resort?

And before I let you go, if a deal can't be reached over the next couple of weeks, you have said that the industrial action will increase. Does that potentially mean we'll see nurses walking off the job, or is that a last resort?

Um, protected industrial action was always a last resort. We will be phasing, um, and having stages to what that protected industrial action looks like. We are creating a space for the government to do the right thing and come back with an offer. I will be really clear though, if they do fail to honour their written and repeated commitments, um, this activity will ramp up and it will look at more disruptive activities. Um, like some workbench. However, I really want to reiterate to the community. Patient safety remains paramount, and the government will be given enough notice to be able to put risk mitigation in place. Um, they are agile. They know how to do this. They did it through Covid. They did the disruption of Covid, the disruption of the cyclone. Uh, they are able to weather this and they should be coming forward with an offer. That means that we don't need to go there. Members should not need to do this to be heard.

Um, protected industrial action was always a last resort. We will be phasing, um, and having stages to what that protected industrial action looks like. We are creating a space for the government to do the right thing and come back with an offer. I will be really clear though, if they do fail to honour their written and repeated commitments, um, this activity will ramp up and it will look at more disruptive activities. Um, like some workbench. However, I really want to reiterate to the community. Patient safety remains paramount, and the government will be given enough notice to be able to put risk mitigation in place. Um, they are agile. They know how to do this. They did it through Covid. They did the disruption of Covid, the disruption of the cyclone. Uh, they are able to weather this and they should be coming forward with an offer. That means that we don't need to go there. Members should not need to do this to be heard.

Thank you, Sarah, for your time this afternoon. That's Sarah Beeman, secretary from the Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union. You also heard there Tim Nicholls speaking today, health minister, saying that they think they've put forward a decent offer. You've heard Sarah say that some of the fine print there, as far as the nurses and midwives are concerned, means it's not nation leading. We'll talk again, Sarah, as this unfolds over the coming weeks.

Thank you, Sarah, for your time this afternoon. That's Sarah Beeman, secretary from the Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union. You also heard there Tim Nicholls speaking today, health minister, saying that they think they've put forward a decent offer. You've heard Sarah say that some of the fine print there, as far as the nurses and midwives are concerned, means it's not nation leading. We'll talk again, Sarah, as this unfolds over the coming weeks.

Pleasure. Thank you for having me.

Pleasure. Thank you for having me.