Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation
Thousands of nurses, midwives, health care assistants and kaimahi hauora employed by Te Whatu Ora will down tools from 9am today until 9am tomorrow after Health NZ failed to address their safe staffing concerns.
Strikes take place at more than 30 locations across the motu from Kaitaia in the north down to Invercargill in the south.
NZNO Chief Executive Paul Goulter says concerns about chronic and ongoing staff shortages have been raised continually throughout the collective agreement bargaining process which began last September and has finally led to today’s national strike.
“Short-staffing not only puts patients at risk it impacts on the number of procedures and assessments hospitals can carry out, adding to wait times.
“Today’s strike marks only the beginning of action if Te Whatu Ora doesn’t realise the risks its staff and patients are under.”
