Midwives plan strike

Wellington: More than 1000 DHBemployed midwives have voted to go on strike.

Meras, the midwives’ union, said 80% of its members voted in the ballot and 90% voted to reject the DHBs’ pay offer and go on strike.

Midwives will be undertaking twohour work stoppages every day on every shift over a two week period from November 22 to December 5.

Industrial coleader Jill Ovens said yesterday the pay offer was rejected because it was tied to nurses’ pay scales without recognising midwife skills and responsibilities.— RNZ