Source: Radio New Zealand
Striking senior doctors on the picket line outside Wellington Regional Hospital, in September 2023. RNZ / Ruth Hill
Both the doctors and dentists’ union and Health New Zealand say their focus is to get back to the bargaining table to hash out a pay deal.
In September the health agency alleged the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists [ASMS] had breached the obligations of good faith.
It asked the Employment Relations Authority [ERA] to step in to settle a collective agreement — which it has decided not to.
The authority’s report on the matter, which was released on Friday afternoon, said the bar for it to step in was high.
“There are no findings of breaches of good faith which were sufficiently serious and sustained to significantly undermine the bargaining between HNZ and ASMS.”
ASMS executive director Sarah Dalton told RNZ it was time to get back to the bargaining table.
“We will be looking for them to arrange bargaining dates as soon as possible and we need to move on, we want to find a settlement that is acceptable to our members.”
ASMS executive director Sarah Dalton. Supplied / LDR
Dalton said it would take a while to work through their issues.
“I think a really good process and an ability to engage properly in our claims and their responses to those claims are the things that are going to get this over the line at the end of the day.”
She hoped the ERA decision would help other unions have good faith negotiations with their employers.
Health New Zealand’s Robyn Shearer said the agency acknowledged the decision and was committed to resuming negotiations as soon as possible.
“Our focus remains on reaching a fair and affordable agreement for senior medical staff and for the wider health system.”
Shearer said the application was made in recognition of the desire to settle the agreement and avoid disruption to patients.
“We remain committed to avoiding disruption to health services and reaching a settlement with ASMS.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
