NSW nurses and midwives have voted to accept a 3 per cent interim wage increase offer with improvements to working conditions, but they say it is “not the end” of their dispute with the state government.

The interim offer will be back paid to July 1, plus 0.5 per cent in superannuation following years-long industrial action. 

Public sector nurses and midwives will also see night shift penalty rates lifted from 15 per cent to 20 per cent, as well as a guarantee of two consecutive days off and no changes made to rosters without consultation.

Workers will also be free from night shifts if they have annual leave booked, unless requested.

Health Minister Ryan Park said around 56,000 healthcare workers across the state would benefit. 

“We’ve been working with them [NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association] for a long time … I’m not going to pretend it’s been easy, it hasn’t it’s been a challenging two and a half years.

“But I’ve said from the very beginning I was determined to reach a point where we were able to put money into the pockets of nurses and midwives whilst at the same time respect the independent umpire looking at the rest of their case,” he said on Friday morning.

The union will now put a special case forth for a 35 per cent pay rise at the Industrial Relations Commission in a six-week hearing starting from September 30.

People dressed in scrubs, and a young boy dressed as a police officer, march in the street calling for a pay rise

The union will now put a special case forth for a 35 per cent pay rise at the Industrial Relations Commission later this month. (ABC News: Timothy Ailwood)

‘Not the end’ of fight for better pay

NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) General Secretary Shaye Candish said the agreement would put money in members’ pockets now, but there was still a long way to go.

“Nurses and midwives are struggling to pay their bills in this cost-of-living crisis so any financial relief is welcomed. Improvements to rosters will also provide staff with greater work-life balance,” Ms Candish said.

“However, this is not the end of our pay and conditions fight. Our case for a 35 per cent pay increase over three years will begin in the NSW Industrial Relations Commission later this month.”

Ms Candish said the association would present evidence to the commission around “the gendered undervaluation of nurses and midwives’ work”.

“Our members have taken a pragmatic approach to this offer from the government,” NSWNMA assistant general secretary Michael Whaites said.

He said the association did not anticipate a response on their case from the commission until early next year.

“It’s a long time for nurses and midwives to wait for any pay rise, which is why they’ve taken this pragmatic approach for the 3 per cent.”

In the first two years of the Minns government, nurses were given an 8 per cent pay bump — inclusive of 1 per cent super.

Premier Chris Minns said workers had suffered 12 years of wage suppression in a neglected health system.

“This interim deal on pay, night shift penalties and improvements to conditions is an important step towards the long-term repair of healthcare across NSW,” he said.