Nursing crisis talks collapse

Crisis talks to avert a planned 24-hour nurses’ strike have failed.

The New Zealand Nurses’ Organisation (NZNO) confirmed yesterday that industrial action, which will see many of the country’s nurses, healthcare assistants and midwives walk off the job, will go ahead from 7am today.

Its more than 30,000-strong membership voted against accepting the latest iteration of a collective pay agreement put forward by the district health boards (DHBs) in an online vote that closed on Monday.

‘‘The NZNO negotiating team has advised the DHBs’ representatives that we remain available for further talks to resolve the negotiation impasse and to achieve an offer that is acceptable to our members,’’ industrial services manager Cee Payne said.

‘‘Life-preserving services and contingency plans will be in place across the 20 district health boards. Patient safety and public safety is paramount.’’

DHBs and the NZNO have been engaged in locked-door discussions, led by an Employment Relations Authority (ERA), facilitator for almost two days.

The nurses’ union claimed the facilitation process had failed. But DHB spokeswoman Helen Mason disputed that yesterday at a press conference in Wellington.

‘‘I’m very disappointed that strike action is going ahead, especially before the final recommendations have been released,’’ Mason said.

A Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) spokesperson confirmed confidential recommendations had been sent to both parties’ lawyers at 4.30pm – 20 minutes before the DHB press conference with Mason.

The recommendations, which are not legally binding, would not be released publicly by the ERA.

Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters reiterated yesterday that there was no more money in the kitty to top up the pay offer.

The looming industrial action has already forced huge disruptions to elective surgery and outpatients appointment schedules, with nurses committing to providing only ‘‘life-preserving’’ services during the strike.

While emergency treatment will be available, questions over how hospitals will cope without the expertise of more than 30,000 NZNO members was unclear.

The nurses’ decision to down tools will be the first strike of its kind in more than 30 years. NZNO chief executive Memo Musa described it as ‘‘unprecedented’’.

Association of Salaried Medical Specialists executive director Ian Powell said doctors had been instructed not to carry out any duties during the strike that fell outside their normal job.

‘‘The Medical Council has been very clear. Don’t work out of your scope of practice, i.e. what you’re trained to do.’’

His organisation was unsure about how big the ripples of the strike might be on non-essential patient care.

‘‘If life-preserving plans work according to their intent, in theory, there should be very little pressure.

‘‘But the unknown in that is that nursing duties are quite different to doctors’ duties,’’ Powell said.

A spokesman for Health Minister David Clark said Peters was the Government’s frontman on the issue.

‘‘[NZNO remains] available for further talks to resolve the negotiation impasse.’’ NZNO industrial services manager Cee Payne