Pay offer for nurses set to stop strike

Union recommends members accept new DHB proposal which includes extra $38m

Nhealth urses and midwives are in line for pay increases of at least 9.5 per cent by August next year and $38 million of new funding will be provided to allow district health boards to hire extra staff under the latest pay offer.

The New Zealand Nurses’ Organisation (NZNO) has recommended its members accept the latest offer which would avoid strike action.

Nurses began negotiations a year ago and had rejected three earlier offers. The organisation last week entered into urgent facilitation through the Employment Relations Authority to try to reach an agreement before the strikes, the first of which was to take place on Thursday.

A new offer was tabled on Friday and the first strike called off while members voted.

The NZNO released details of the latest offer yesterday.

The revised offer includes a further 3 per cent pay rise for those at the top of their field to provide a more equitable outcome, $38m in new funding to provide safe staffing levels in hospitals and community-based organisations and a guarantee any pay equity claims would be assessed and implemented by December 31 next year.

Midwives and healthcare assistants industrial services manager Cee Payne said those were among the key priorities identified by members after the last vote.

“The NZNO negotiation team has made a recommendation on this offer because they really do believe there is no additional funding that can be achieved by taking industrial action at this time,” Payne said.

“It will mean that nursing is back on its feet. It will stem the exodus of young and skilled nurses from New Zealand. It will become a profession of choice once again.”

She said the revised offer included additional financial recognition for all occupational groups covered by the DHB Multi-Employer Collective Agreement above general wage rises.

Payne said the offer also allows pay equity negotiations, which may lead to further pay increases before ● ● ●

the agreement expires.

Those employed under the collective agreement would receive a oneoff lump sum payment of $2000 as soon as the agreement was ratified.

Nurses, midwives, healthcare assistants and hospital aides on the top tier of each category would also get a further 3 per cent pay rise from next May, boosting their total pay rise to at least 12.5 per cent.

By August 5 next year, new graduate registered nurses and midwives would start on an annual base salary of $54,000, up from $49,500.

Top-tier registered nurses and midwives would be able to earn $77,386 by August 2020.

Designated senior nurses and midwives would start on $79,760 by August next year and could earn up to $130,653.

The extra funding to employ more staff would take effect immediately to allow recruiting to begin.

District health boards spokeswoman Helen Mason said she was pleased the nurses’ organisation had taken the revised offer to its members.

“The revised offer means more people will receive pay rises, there are increased commitments to addressing workforce issues and a firm undertaking to implement the outcome of the pay equity discussions with the NZNO,” she said. Voting on the offer closes on July 9.