Nurses to vote on 24-hour strike
A ballot on strike action will open to 27,000 nurses union members from Monday.
Members of the New Zealand Nursing Organisation (NZNO) will have 30 days to vote on whether to go ahead with two strikes of 24 hours each in early July – with one week in between.
Industrial services manager Cee Payne said the NZNO national delegates committee recommended proceeding with a secret strike ballot of all members covered by the district health board (DHB) Nurses and Midwifery Multi Employer Collective Agreement (MECA) for strike action.
‘‘The commitment to secure safe patient care and a salary structure that incentivises nurses and midwives to remain in the profession has led the committee to this important decision. Strike action is a last resort if a settlement acceptable to our members cannot be achieved,’’ Payne said.
Ballot papers were being sent out from Monday. Members could also vote online.
Two pay deals offered by DHBs have been rejected to date.
Both parties took up a suggestion by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to try an independent panel to break the impasse.
The panel, announced on April 13, included former Reserve Bank director Professor Margaret Wilson, former NZNO chief executive Geoff Annals, and Whanganui DHB chief executive Julie Patterson.
A revised offer based on submissions would be presented in mid-May.
DHB spokeswoman Helen Mason said DHBs were optimistic the panel’s recommendation would lead to a settlement.
‘‘The frustration of NZNO members has been made very clear over the last two weeks of rallies and we understand the purpose of the ballot about possible industrial action. DHBs are strongly committed to exploring all options for a settlement.
‘‘DHBs acknowledge the issues raised are important to nurses and midwives and we want to give them confidence that we can address them.’’
The NZNO said the strike action ‘‘will occur if the MECA impasse is not resolved through the independent panel process’’.
‘‘We announced this decision to members this morning with the information that the possible strike action will consist of two strikes for 24 hours each commencing at 7.00am. The committee have proposed a week in between the two strikes,’’ Cee Payne said.
The NZNO was required to give 14 days’ notice to the DHBs. NZNO chief executive Memo Musa said DHBs had to develop a contingency plan as soon as they received notice of strike action ‘‘and take all reasonable and practicable steps to ensure continued provision of essential or life preserving service if strike action occurs’’.
‘‘The statutory Code of Good Faith for the public health sector requires employers to provide for patients safety by ensuring that life preserving services are available to prevent a serious threat to life or permanent disability during any strike action,’’ Musa said.