Minister for Health
The Honourable Lawrence Springborg
30/04/2012
Agreement reached with nurse’s union
The Minister for Health Lawrence Springborg has welcomed news that Queensland nurses will soon vote on their new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement.
Mr Springborg said agreement between Queensland Health and Queensland Nurses Union representatives to finalise proposed changes in nurses’ entitlements was reached this morning.
“Discussions to settle the EBA reached an impasse under the former government and recommenced by the LNP Government last week,” Mr Springborg said.
“This new agreement will help ensure our nurses continue to do the great work that they do.”
Mr Springborg said the package included a three per cent per annum wage rise and three per cent a year increase to nurses’ professional development allowance.
“Nurses will also see improvements to night shift penalty rates and a better classification structure including recognition of the Nurse Unit Manager role,” Mr Springborg said.
“Under this agreement we will be better able to address recruitment and retention issues across Queensland and in particular, rural and remote hospitals. It also addresses nurses’ concerns regarding workload.
“I am extremely pleased that we have been able to reach an agreement with the QNU and that negotiations have run smoothly.
“This is a great result for the Queensland Government, Queensland Health’s 33,000 nurses and their patients.”
