The NSW Nurses and Midwives Association (NSWNMA) has voted to accept the NSW Government's offer of a 3 per cent interim wage increase and enhancements to working conditions.
The agreement provides an interim 3 per cent pay increase for public sector nurses and midwives, paid retrospectively from 1 July 2025, plus 0.5 per cent in superannuation.
Nurses and Midwives will also see an increase to their Night Shift Penalty rate from 15 to 20 per cent, effective from 1 July 2025, with this issue no longer part of future arbitration proceedings.
Nurses and midwives will also see improvements to their working conditions and work-life balance, including:
- Two consecutive days off
- No night shifts before annual leave unless requested
- No changes on published roster without consultation
The offer gives public sector nurses and midwives a pay rise now, while still allowing a pathway for the remaining matters to be determined by the independent Industrial Relations Commission.
The Minns Labor Government re-empowered the independent industrial umpire to make a decision free of a wages cap.
This improvement to night shift loadings and interim pay rise follows an 8 per cent increase to pay (inclusive of a 1 per cent increase to superannuation) for nurses over the first two years of the Minns Labor Government.
After 12 years of wage suppression and neglect of the health system, the Minns Labor Government abolished the wages cap and is working to rebuild the health workforce.
Quotes attributable to Treasurer Daniel Mookhey:
"This interim deal on pay, nightshift penalties and improvements to conditions is an important step towards the long-term repair of healthcare across NSW.
"We have delivered wage agreements for 81 per cent of public sector workers - investing in the teachers, paramedics, health workers and police who provide essential services. This would not be possible under the Coalition's wage cap."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:
"When we came to office, NSW was facing a health workforce crisis - our nurses, our paramedics, our hospital workers were leaving. We are turning things around.
"This vote is a major step to addressing the chronic shortage of nurses in our hospitals but there is more to do.
"We have an independent process underway to determine what we need to do to ensure NSW nurses have the pay and conditions needed, including to address the gender pay gap that exists.
"This was opposed by the Liberals - only Labor can keep getting on with the job of improving our hospitals and recruiting more health workers.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Industrial Relations Sophie Cotsis:
"This agreement is long overdue recognition for nurses and midwives who have been campaigning for a long time. We are proud to support those who care for our communities day and night.
"The Minns Labor Government continues the work of rebuilding the state's essential services and reforming the industrial relations system.
"That work began with the scrapping of the Coalition's wages cap which was in place for 12 years, introducing a fairer, modern bargaining framework, setting up an Industrial court and amending the Industrial Relations Act to include a new Object to achieve gender equality in the workplace.
"Our agreement to a historic increase in night shift penalties and improved working conditions for nurses and midwives reflects our commitment to valuing frontline workers."
