Source: PSA
More than 11,500 Allied Health workers will today begin voting to work to rule and for a four-hour strike on 28 November after mediation with Health NZ yesterday failed to make progress on a fair pay offer and safe staffing levels.
The work to rule in the week before and after the planned strike means they would not do unpaid overtime and would take their lunch and tea breaks.
“We had hoped that mediation would result in a better offer for allied, technical and scientific and public health workers in hospitals all over New Zealand but sadly insufficient progress was made,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“Health workers are reluctant to take more strike action, but Health NZ Te Whatu Ora has once again failed to recognise the immense pressure health workers are under and the struggle they face with the cost of living.”
Allied Health workers cover over 60 professions that help keep the public health service functioning including social workers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, scientists, anaesthetic technicians, Māori health specialists, clinical support workers and health assistants
“These are critical health workers who work long hours and often have to do unpaid overtime to ensure New Zealanders get the health care they need.
“They have been bargaining since June and went on strike on October 23 and attended mediation yesterday hoping it would bring Health NZ back to the table with an improved offer. While Health NZ did offer to shorten the term to expire on 31 October 2027 rather than the original expiry of 31 December 2027 the pay increases would be delayed until the date of settlement.
Today’s mediation shows workers’ concerns are again falling on deaf ears.
“The pay offer on the table still does not keep pace with inflation and means workers are effectively taking a pay cut. Meanwhile, there are simply not enough health workers to provide the level of care New Zealanders need,” said Fitzsimons.
“If Health NZ continues to undervalue these workers, we’ll keep losing them to Australia where the health system respects what they do.
“We urge Health NZ to come back to bargaining with an offer that reflects the value of these workers and addresses the staffing crisis that is compromising patient care across the country.”
