D Day on nurse strike

The final votes have been cast in a crucial ballot which will determine if thousands of nurses around the country walk off the job later this week. Nurses had until 5pm yesterday to vote on the latest revised collective agreement from district health boards (DHBs). The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO), which recommended the offer to its members, will release the outcome of the online ballot this morning. It is widely expected to be close. Meanwhile, DHBs are again beginning to postpone elective surgeries and outpatient appointments in preparation for the 24-hour strike planned from 7am Thursday. The NZNO represents 29,500 nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants employed by DHBs. If a majority vote to accept the revised offer, the fourth to be put forward by DHBs since last year, the strike will be called off. The offer includes a December 2019 date for any pay equity payments to come into effect, and $38 million in new funding for DHBs to immediately begin hiring about 500 new nurses.