Health workers angry over pay offer

Unions representing Queensland's public health workers say they're considering industrial action over proposed cuts in conditions and real wages.

The threat comes as Premier Anna Bligh prepares to work a night shift as a nurse orderly at Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital starting close to midnight (AEST).

The Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union (LHMU) and Queensland Public Sector Union (QPSU) have released a joint statement accusing Queensland Health of cost cutting across the public healthcare system.

The statement says Queensland Health has offered a measly 2.5 per cent a year pay offer and is proposing to cut conditions for workers, particularly in rural towns.

It also says the unions are not ruling out "taking direct industrial action in coming weeks".

QPSU acting general secretary Kate Flanders says the wage offer is unfair.

"A pay offer of 2.5 per cent is effectively a pay cut and can hardly be described as fair when politicians are being awarded over four per cent increases within a year and the Reserve Bank estimates the average inflation over the next three years will be 3.05 per cent," Ms Flanders said.

"Right now, we know the employer wants to take a scalpel to health practitioners' regional and rural allowances, as well as student supervision allowances of $10 a day."

LHMU Queensland branch secretary Gary Bullock said Queensland Health wanted to slash a week from the annual leave of radiographers and physicists, despite their workplace exposure to radiation.