<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Queensland nurses and midwives have escalated their industrial action for nation-leading wages and conditions after reaching a "breaking point" during negotiations with the Crisafulli government.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union (QNMU) initiated stage two of industrial action from 7am today, which will see members step back from all non-clinical duties and focus on direct patient care.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They will not work overtime, answer administrative phones, restock or reorder supplies, clean or make beds, empty rubbish bins, clean equipment or spaces and collect and transport meals.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/erin-patterson-church-of-mushroom-murder-victims-issues-message-to-community/98a717e9-23d7-4a8e-964a-52f381da486c" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Mushroom murder victims' church shares message after guilty verdicts</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They will also take their full breaks. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Nurses and midwives are holding our health system together through sheer heart, skill and determination," QNMU secretary Sarah Beaman said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We're at breaking point, and we're done being disrespected.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/queensland-nurses-and-midwives-ramp-up-industrial-action-as-they-reach-breaking-point/10f84968-6272-4859-983c-a5b90b714703" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We are over the state government's stalling tactics and gaslighting."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>QNMU said it gave Queensland Health the three full working days' notice to ensure contingencies are in place during stage two.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Beaman stressed that nurses and midwives were not abandoning their professional obligations, but merely refusing to do the additional duties added to their workload over the years.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>QNMU began negotiations in January but, after failed talks, voted for industrial action on June 5 for the first time in 23 years.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The union wants the state government to honour its pre-election commitment of nation-leading wages and conditions.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/bendigo-bank-shuts-down-10-branches-in-victoria-queensland-tasmania/7aee57c8-3eec-40ce-8b23-826d49986ba4" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Bendigo Bank to shut 10 branches across three states</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>QNMU most recently rejected the state's offer of an 11 per cent pay increase over three years, which it claimed would see the state fall behind as the national standard for the first time in 15 years.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This is feared to impact staff retention as about 300 shifts remain unfilled each day. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If we do not have nation-leading wages and conditions, then we will not have nurses and midwives staying in Queensland," Beaman said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The union is instead pushing for a 13 per cent wage increase over three years. Beaman urged the state to come to the table with a better offer.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We have not taken this decision lightly, but the government has left us no choice," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Fair pay. Safe conditions. Respect. That's all we're asking."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Deputy Premier and Industrial Relations Minister Jarrod Bleijie said the state wants nurses and health workers to have nation-leading wages, adding that they are continuing to negotiate in good faith.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><strong><span>Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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