Source: PSA
Public Service Minister Judith Collins needs to stop with the political games and get back to the bargaining table with a fair offer for health workers striking on Thursday for safe staffing and decent pay.
The Minister’s open letter blaming unions completely misses the point – the public understands why health workers are taking action and backs them in their fight for fair pay and recognition of the vital work they do, said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“Health workers are striking because after months of negotiation, the Government has failed to offer fair pay or address the chronic understaffing crisis putting them and patients at risk.
“These are nurses, allied health workers and other critical support staff who keep our health system running 24/7 and now work double shifts to cover vacancies because of the Government’s underfunding.
“It’s a problem of their own making and now the Government is blaming unions and making reckless threats to change the law and take away workers’ fundamental right to strike.
“None of this is helpful and just distracts from the real issue – this government’s political choice to underfund our health system while handing out tax breaks to landlords and tobacco companies.
“Health funding is a political choice. Listening to workers is a political choice. This government is making the wrong choices.
“It needs to stop the threats, stop the blame game, and start taking responsibility for the health staffing crisis it has created through short-sighted funding cuts.
“Health workers don’t want to strike – they want fair pay and safe working conditions so they can get back to caring for patients. The ball is in the Government’s court.”
