Closure for public sector nurses and midwives as Agreement approved
19 May 2020
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Tasmanian Branch (ANMF) notified public sector nurses and midwives on Friday 15 May 2020, that their Enterprise Agreement had been formally approved following an earlier meeting with the Tasmanian Industrial Commission.
The Nurses and Midwives (Tasmanian State Service) Agreement now sees public sector nurses and midwives with an initial pay increase of 2.3% from 1 December 2019, followed by 2.3%, 2.35%, and 2.35% over four years with a nominal expiry date of 2023.
The announcement that the Agreement has been formally signed off could not come at a more valuable time. ANMF Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd said “Public sector nurses and midwives are working under extreme conditions on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic. To be able to announce that this Agreement has been signed off and back pay secured, will give them some much needed closure at a time of great uncertainty.”
“Nurses and midwives employed by the Tasmanian Health Service campaigned alongside the ANMF for over 24 months to bring their Agreement in line with local and national standards. They fought for the future of nursing in Tasmania and for retention, recruitment, and recognition. Members should be proud of what they have achieved,” said Ms Shepherd.
The Agreement addresses several key concerns for nurses and midwives working in the state’s public sector including; increased professional development, increments to assist with recruitment and retention, as well as improved professional development allowances.
“The new Agreement brings the wages of these nurses and midwives in line with the broader public sector, however the additional increments and the increased professional development allowances, mean that the overall base salary is higher.”
“We know that the offer will not address every concern for public sector nurses and midwives. Unfortunately, we have still not achieved parity with other states and territories, and this was a major concern for our members. However, the new Agreement will go a considerable way in closing the gap in the pay differential,” said Ms Shepherd.
The full breakdown of the Agreement, as well as the Caseload Midwifery Industrial Agreement 2019 which was also finalised at the same time, can be viewed here.
Media contact:
Emily Shepherd, ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary
Mobile: 0400 884 021
Email: Emily.shepherd@anmftas.org.au