9 August 2018

Peter Gutwein, Treasurer

Update on negotiations for the Nurses and Midwives Agreement 2018

A meeting with unions occurred today in relation to negotiations for nurses and midwives.

This meeting was an opportunity to provide details and an explanation of the Government’s wage negotiation parameters.

These parameters are consistent with other negotiations and consists of:

• Salary and existing Salary-Related Allowances - Increases of up to 2% per annum of total remuneration representing prospective annual increases;
• Non-Salary Components - Flexibility to negotiate increases to non-salary related components by identification and offset against efficiencies and productivities;
• Existing Expense – Related Allowances – Increase by established mechanisms in Award;
• Employment Arrangements - Prepared to introduce changes to policies and guidelines involving employment arrangements, including recruitment, appointment and review of fixed-term. Career progression pathways and resourcing models will also be examined for nursing and midwives; and
• Period of Agreements - Three (3) years but will consider up to five (5) years

During previous negotiations and today’s meeting, there has been positive discussions in relation to:

• The establishment of the workforce planning unit and the phases of that body of work; and
• Career pathways and progressions for specialist nurses.

In addition, it was agreed for the Secretary of the Department of Health and union officials to meet in relation to aggression and violence against nurses and also undertake action to ensure safer working environments. This meeting will occur on 10 August 2018.

I look forward to and encourage continued genuine negotiations. In particular, the positive progress on some components of the total package for nurses.

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