Nurses’ contract dispute still at an impasse

ALL day talks yesterday between the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) and district health boards failed to resolve the ongoing contract dispute, leaving the possibility of a daylong nationwide nurses’ strike still very much alive.

Nurses last week rejected the DHBs’ proposal to resolve the longrunning employment contract issue, saying their offer did not address staffing and pay equity issues adequately or see nurses’ pay rise high enough or quickly enough.

Nursing is deemed an essential service, and as such both sides were obliged to hold mediation talks before industrial action — scheduled for July 5 and 12 — could proceed.

Those talks, held in Wellington yesterday, dragged on until 7pm, but the two sides remained at loggerheads.

‘‘While this is a setback, we will continue to do everything we can to settle this agreement and avoid strikes,’’ DHBs spokeswoman Helen Mason said last night.

NZNO spokeswoman Lesley Harris said the DHBs did not make any suggestions to resolve the dispute which NZNO negotiators felt they could put forward to members.

Last week, Health Minister David Clark said no more money was available to put into play in negotiations, but the way cash was allocated within the proposed contract offer could possibly be reviewed.

‘‘We are now waiting for confirmation of dates for facilitation,’’ Ms Harris said.

‘‘This is a more formal process under the Employment Relations Act in an endeavour to resolve a significant impasse in bargaining.’’

In the meantime, the NZNO was continuing to prepare for strike action, Ms Harris said.

Despite nurses possibly walking off the job — the first such strike in 30 years — a certain number of NZNO members will be on duty to ensure lifepreserving services are maintained.

Ms Mason said DHBs were continuing to implement contingency plans to ensure emergency and essential services were available if the strike goes ahead.

‘‘Our aim is to keep everyone safe during any potential strike — patients and staff alike — and that means significant changes to normal services.

‘‘Each DHB will be in touch with their affected patients to provide more information on this.’’

Ms Mason said if the strikes went ahead, people should not delay seeking medical treatment, and go to hospital if the matter was urgent.