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Nurses’ and midwives’ EB8 – Keeping nursing and midwifery strong
Keeping nursing and midwifery strong – this is the catch phrase of the Queensland Nurses Union’s new enterprise bargaining campaign.
Negotiations for a new EB8 agreement which details the wages and conditions of all Queensland Health nurses and midwives kicked off in October 2011.
This round of negotiations will be unlike any other.
The negotiations will occur in the midst of the payroll catastrophe due to which staff morale is at an all-time low and trust in the employer is non-existent.
It is also happening alongside the rollout of the largest reform of Australia’s health system since Medicare.
A state election could be called at any moment – almost certainly before our negotiations are concluded – and the
global economy is facing uncertainty with budget cutbacks occurring at all levels of government across Australia.
But regardless of the current state of play, if QNU members are informed, engaged and active during these enterprise bargaining negotiations, we are giving ourselves the very best chance at securing a good outcome.
Why Keeping nursing and midwifery strong?
Workloads, staffing shortages, skill mix, inequitable entitlements for rural and remote nurses, an out-dated nursing and midwifery classification structure, a lack of control over nursing and midwifery budgets, a loss of faith in the employer – these issues undermine nursing and midwifery. They also impact on how Queensland Health nurses and midwives and others see our profession.
Through the QNU’s EB8 campaign we have an opportunity to keep nursing and midwifery strong. By addressing these issues we can ensure nursing and midwifery stays a strong and attractive career option without compromising nursing and midwifery practice or the quality of care that we provide.
What we’ll be asking for:
- Improved wages and conditions
- Better workloads
- Higher levels of staffing and skill mix
- Enhanced entitlements for rural and remote nurses
- Improvements to the nursing and midwifery classification and career structure
- A positive and supportive workplace culture and a real attempt to restore confidence in the employer
- Innovative nursing and midwifery models and control over budgets.
The power of the QNU at work is never more evident than during enterprise bargaining negotiations. Without strength in numbers we would find it difficult to influence these negotiations.
So get active in the QNU’s EB8 negotiations where and when you can.