Health Payroll Produces Good news for Nurses and Midwives

The infamous Queensland Health payroll system last night churned out an extra $27.2 million in payments to nurses... but this time, it was meant to.

This morning Queensland Health’s 33,000 nurses and midwives received their first pay-packet that included the pay rise delivered as a part of the Newman LNP government's drive to retain, attract, reward and value nurses.

The EB8 agreement, negotiated by Health Minister Lawrence Springborg in his first two weeks as Health Minister, arrives in pay packets today – a payroll addition in gross terms of $27.2 million. On top of their new fortnightly salary, affected staff received back-pay to April 1, when previous arrangements expired.

For nurses, pay day today is a marked contrast to their experience under the previous Labor Government,” Mr Springborg said. “Not only are nurses actually receiving their pay packets, but they are getting three per cent more in salary.

“Over three years, the agreement will put an extra $591.6 million in the pockets of Queensland nurses.”

Mr Springborg said that when nurses and midwives voted to give overwhelming support to the new agreement they voted for improved stability and productivity in Queensland Hospitals.

The Nurses and Midwives (Queensland Health) Certified Agreement (EB8) covers nurses across 12 classification levels.

The major points of the agreement are:

· 3% per annum (or $30 per week, whichever is the greater) wage increase

· 3% increase to Professional Development Allowance

· Additional classification levels to the grade 7 classification level

· Savings achieved by reducing the levels of casual and agency staff.

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Contact: Cameron Thompson 0407-585230