Nursing unions in NSW and Queensland have launched a class action to protect nurses' wages in the two states.

For months the unions have been warning that nurses in NSW and Queensland could lose up to $300 a week under the national award modernisation process.

The existing state awards in NSW and Queensland are higher than the new, national pay rates which will come into effect in July.

The federal secretary of the ANF, Ged Kearney said the application would ensure that “unscrupulous” employers would not use the award modernisation process to cut wages.

“This application will cover more than 400 named aged care providers in Queensland and NSW,” said Ms Kearney.

“This is the first time a union has used these provisions to protect workers across a large number of employers.

“Instead of waiting for employers to cut workers wages we are getting in first to ensure they are protected.”

But last month the CEO of Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA) told Australian Ageing Agenda it was “unlikely” that any nurses would be disadvantaged.

“I would be really surprised if, in a sellers market for nursing labour, any employer thought it would be a good idea to reduce wages for nurses,” he said.

“Theoretically, aged care providers [in NSW and Queensland] could reduce the wages of their nurses in instalments, down to award rates, but in practice I think that’s very unlikely.”