Blue Care negotiates new EBA

Blue Care nursing staff will receive an 18 per cent wage increase over the next three years after a new enterprise bargaining agreement was reached with the Queensland Nurses Union (QNU).

The agreement was signed last week, following 10 months of negotiations. Ninety-six per cent of the organisation’s nursing staff voted in favour of the new deal.

Blue Care Executive Director Stephen Muggleton said the agreement ensured that the organisation remained an industry leader in the area of staff pay and conditions.

“It’s deserved recognition for the dedication, professionalism and care our nurses provide every day of the year,” Mr Muggleton said.

“To demonstrate our commitment to rewarding staff, the first pay rise was given in May and paid back to 1 January, so staff didn’t have to wait for the agreement to be ratified.”

Improvements to the former agreement include four pay increases over three years and substantial increases in monetary allowances for uniforms, laundry, qualifications, on-call rates of pay and supervisory allowances.

The agreement also includes a new practical workload management tool to assist staff members to manage workplace pressures. There will also be bereavement leave for same sex partners.

“We are focused on being the employer of choice in the aged care sector, and with help from the QNU we’ve worked on improving and updating the existing EBA to deliver the best possible pay and conditions to attract nursing staff into the future,” Mr Muggleton said.