Queensland’s 57,000 nurses and midwives are one step closer to securing a major pay rise after their union backed a new deal with the state government.

Three-quarters of union members voted in favour of the package, which includes an 11 per cent increase over three years, as well as double-time overtime for shift workers.

A final ballot of the state’s entire nursing and midwifery workforce will now be held in the coming weeks.

The breakthrough comes after nine months of industrial unrest, 150 hours of bargaining, and 13 conciliation hearings before the Industrial Relations Commission.

Rolling strike action saw nurses take to the streets in pink uniforms as they pushed for a 13 per cent wage hike.

Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union (QNMU) secretary Sarah Beaman praised members for th

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