Queensland nurses refuse to make beds as strike action ramps up | Breaking News & Latest Australia Updates

Queensland nurses refuse to make beds as strike action ramps up — Topic:Industrial Action Tens of thousands of nurses and midwives across Queensland have ramped up strike action today, accusing the government of "gas...

Topic:Industrial Action

Tens of thousands of nurses and midwives across Queensland have ramped up strike action today, accusing the government of "gaslighting" them amid stalled pay negotiations.

Stage two of the Queensland Nurses and Midwives' Union (QNMU) industrial action involves up to 45,000 workers refusing to do tasks not related to clinical care at public hospitals and healthcare facilities around the state.

As part of the action nurses are not working overtime without four hours' notice, making and cleaning beds or transferring stable patients.

They have also pledged to take breaks in full.

Enterprise bargaining negotiations began in January, with the union seeking a 13 per cent pay rise over three years, while the government offered 11.

QNMU secretary Sarah Beaman said the government was breaking its pre-election promise to deliver nation-leading pay and conditions.

"Nurses and midwives are holding the system together through sheer will, determination and skill, but they are over the government's gaslighting and they are over their stalling tactics," she said.

Queensland Nurses and Midwives' Union secretary Sarah Beaman says nurses have had enough.(ABC News: Jack McKay)

"They are telling the government that they need to listen. They are at breaking point and they've had enough.

Deputy Premier and Industrial Relations Minister Jarrod Bleijie refused to comment specifically on the strike action.

"That protected action is a matter for the nurses. As I said, we continue to negotiate in good faith," he said.

Queensland Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie says the government will negotiate in good faith on all upcoming enterprise bargaining agreements.(ABC News: Lucas Hill)

He added he didn't think it would affect other upcoming public sector wage agreement negotiations.

"I think there's over 27 in the next three years. So, in all of those situations we'll negotiate, as always, in good faith."

Ms Beaman said she remained optimistic a deal could be struck.

"There is the option to go to further actions and stage three. However, I am hopeful that the government will listen," she said.

Colin Hackwaad says he believes benefits have been taken away from nurses over time.(ABC News)

Speaking outside the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, patient Colin Hackwaad said the negotiations were about more than just money.

"I think everyone's struggling, and [nurses] do some really awful shifts, 24-hour rotations, and through time, they've taken away a lot of the benefits," he said.

"They've been given a solid pay rate but taken benefits away, so as time goes on, you start to say 'hang on, you're not getting a good deal anymore'."

Richard Harrison was visiting his father-in-law at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, where he said nurses did a "fantastic" job.(ABC News)

Richard Harrison, who was visiting his father-in-law at the hospital, said practitioners at the facility did a "fantastic job" and he supported the strike action.

"The care in that hospital is awesome," he said.

"Without them, where would we be?

The government has claimed an offer made by the union last week was the first formal one it had received, although the union rejected that suggestion.

"This is an example of the government actually misleading [the public]," Ms Beaman said.

"The QNMU has been negotiating with the Department of Health since January, and there have been numerous items put forward as part of that negotiation."

She said under the government's latest offer, up to 66 per cent of nurses and midwives would not have the nation-leading pay and conditions that had been promised.

"The premier was very clear that he says he respects nurses and midwives, but now he needs to walk the talk. Respect is more than words, it is actions," Ms Beaman said.

Cameron Dick says the government needs to follow through on its promise.(AAP: Dan Peled)

Deputy Opposition leader Cameron Dick said Premier David Crisafulli needed to follow through on a "clear and unambiguous promise".

"Our hard-working frontline heroes in health just expect the premier to deliver on his promise which was nation-leading wages and conditions," he said.

"That's all nurses and midwives have asked of the government."

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