Health workers take protest on pay to the street
Placard-waving health workers gathered outside Taranaki’s main hospital to protest for better pay and conditions.
Yesterday’s Taranaki Hospital Rally was organised by the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) to bring attention to its claims of government underinvestment in quality patient care, poor nurses’ pay and staffing issues.
The two-hour protest, which involved a main group of about 30 workers and members of the public, was one of a number being staged at hospitals around the country this week.
‘‘It’s not just about nurses on the wards, there is huge pressure on nurses out in the community and the workloads are getting more and there appears to be no relief in sight,’’ mental health nurse Jenny Rae said.
The number of protesters on the corner of Tukapa and David streets grew around lunch time when health workers took their lunch breaks and joined the rally, encouraging passing drivers to toot their car horns in support.
They included Rae, who is also an NZNO delegate. Afterwards, she emphasised that it was a rally, not a strike.
‘‘It went really well, we were really pleased with the turnout,’’ she said. ‘‘We had good support from the public.’’
The rallies were launched after the NZNO rejected a two per cent pay offer proposed by DHBs.
‘‘We really feel that in this work environment of doing extra to cover shifts, and with increasing workloads, that the two per cent offer was a slap in the face.’’
Rae said they planned to hand out flyers in coming weeks but would ‘‘wait and see’’ what happens when the pay increase offer is looked at by an independent panel.
The Taranaki District Health Board was approached for comment.