NSW Health will pay nurses a 3 per cent wage increase to temporarily halt industrial action, with the state nurses’ union accepting a recommendation from the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC).

The decision comes after public sector members of the NSW union branch voted to accept the IRC’s recommendation.

The union will now enter a four-week period of negotiations with the state government.

“We are committed to pursuing the best possible pay and conditions outcome for our members, including things like 30 per cent night shift penalty, to bring us into line with other states,” said NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) Acting General Secretary Michael Whaites.

“As a show of our good faith from the government, public sector nurses and midwives will receive an interim 3 per cent wage increase, backdated to 1 July 2024.”

Mr Whaites noted that this deal “was not the final outcome” and that it doesn’t prejudice the union’s to negotiate a better outcome.

“I think it’s pretty clear now that the government understands that a better outcome is needed.”

The acting general secretary added that the government has now agreed to discussions on pay negotiations, including the possibility of a multi-year agreement.

In a statement, NSW Health Minister Ryan Park confirmed that the union had agreed to the IRC’s recommendation for the pay rise.

The NSW government also confirmed that “no industrial action affecting patients will take place while the discussions” and arbitration are progressing. 

Speaking to the ABC, Mr Park acknowledged the issue of pay for nurses and midwives was not resolved.

“We’re not pretending that it has. What we’re saying is that there’s been an agreement to accept the full recommendations of the [IRC].”

The union’s acceptance of the recommendation comes after its previous push for a one-off pay rise of 15 per cent and a rejection of both the IRC’s suggested 3 per cent pay rise as well as a three-year 10.5 per cent pay rise.

In early September, thousands of nurses walked off the job for a 12.5-hour strike, demanding better pay.

Less than three weeks later,  the NSWNMA completed its second industrial action.

Union secretary Shaye Candish told the ABC at the time that nurses and midwives in NSW were paid “approximately less than 18 per cent less than nurses in Queensland”.