Nurses vote to ratify DHB offer

District Health Boards (DHBS) have finally reached an agreement with nurses, healthcare assistants and midwives over the terms of their collective agreement.

The New Zealand Nurses’ Organisation (NZNO) announced yesterday morning the ‘‘majority’’ of its 30,000 members voted to ratify the fifth version of the deal during an online vote which closed on Monday, bringing an end to nearly a year of negotiations.

The endorsement means the threat of further strike action no longer loomed over the country’s hospitals.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was ‘‘delighted’’ nurses have accepted the latest DHB offer – the fifth put forward for consideration.

‘‘This settlement rightly delivers the biggest pay increase nurses have seen in a decade and will put 500 more nurses in our hospitals,’’ Ardern said.

‘‘There is no question that nurses have felt undervalued over recent years. We needed to listen to their concerns and respond in the interests of both nurses and patients.’’

NZNO industrial services manager Cee Payne declared: ‘‘Our members’ voices have been heard and action has been taken. The campaign for safe staffing and better pay that continued through nationwide Rallies for Health, helped to bring public attention to the unacceptable workloads and working conditions of the public health sector nursing workforce.

‘‘This helped to secure an acceptable Multi-employer Collective Agreement (MECA).’’

Last month, pickets and rallies took place across the country, as NZNO members protested against the terms of the DHB agreement, unhappy with the pay and conditions it offered.

The majority of its 30,000-strong union walked off the job for 24 hours on July 12 after last-minute facilitation failed.

The industrial action saw as many as 8000 procedures cancelled or postponed across the country, with nurses only offering life-preserving services over that period.

In a letter to NZNO members, spokeswoman for its negotiating team, Lesley Harry, said accepting the new MECA ‘‘lays down foundations for a much safer and rewarding career for our nursing and midwifery teams. Our pay equity work will get under way immediately with attention to the process and research requirements prior to negotiations. This is a significant step for Nursing and Midwifery in Aotearoa.’’

DHB spokesman Jim Green said the new agreement acknowledged the value of the wider nursing workforce.

‘‘There are three pay increases of 3 per cent – two of which take effect immediately. There’s a third increase next year, as well as two new steps at the top of the nurses and midwives scale that specifically recognise the skill and experience of this group. There is also a commitment to pay equity and the DHBS can now continue working with the NZNO on that process,’’ Green said.