WHAT WAS CLAIMED
NSW nurses have received a 15 per cent pay rise in each of the last two years.
OUR VERDICT
False. Nurses received a 4.5 per cent increase in 2023 and 3 per cent rise in 2024 while negotiations continue.
AAP FACTCHECK - Public sector nurses and midwives in NSW have not received a 15 per cent wage increase in each of the last two years, despite a claim on social media.
The state government says nurses and midwives received a 4.5 per cent pay rise in 2023, an interim three per cent pay increase in 2024, and were offered, but declined, a 10.5 per cent increase over three years from 2024.
The nursing and midwifery union continues to campaign for a one-off rise of 15 per cent, and has been in wage negotiations with the state government since April 2024.
A Facebook post inaccurately claims the workforce has received a 30 per cent wage increase over the last two years.
"But still waiting in the WINGS are the NUSES AND HOSPITAL UNION, demanding a wage Increase", the post said.
"In fact, each year of the last two years there has been a 15% increase PAID to cover rents and costs of living expenses, but they want more."
However, public-sector nurses and midwives have not received such a large wage increase.
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park's office confirmed these workers had received a 4.5 per cent wage increase in 2023, which included a 0.5 per cent superannuation boost.
A spokesperson said nurses and midwives were offered a baseline 10.5 per cent wage increase over three years from 2024, but had not accepted it.
"A wage increase of 3 per cent was delivered to nurses and midwives last year as part of an interim agreement between the NSW Government and the NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association while negotiations on the 10.5 per cent offer continue," the spokesperson told AAP FactCheck.
NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association (NSWNMA) general secretary Shaye Candish said workers received a four per cent wage increase in 2023, ending a 2.5 per cent cap on annual wage rises that had been in place under the previous coalition government for more than a decade.
"In 2024, nurses and midwives received an interim 3 per cent pay increase during a year of soaring inflation and cost of living pressures," Ms Candish told AAP FactCheck.
"That's despite our members fighting for a one-off 15 per cent pay increase to bring NSW nurses and midwives in line with other states and deliver pay parity with states like Queensland and Victoria."
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