Nurses, DHBs back negotiating

It will be a case of who blinks first, as the Mexican standoff between nurses and the District Health Boards (DHBs) over pay and conditions resumes.

New Zealand Nurses’ Organisation (NZNO) members want more financial investment, but their DHB employers and the government have publicly claimed no more money was available to bolster its current offer.

Nevertheless, both parties were back taking their seats around the negotiating table yesterday – less than a week after nurses, healthcare assistants and midwives across the country walked off the wards for the first time in three decades.

DHBs were reportedly putting their fifth collective agreement proposal before NZNO negotiators in a bid to prevent further industrial action.

NZNO industrial services manager Cee Payne has indicated more financial investment would be needed if the employment agreement was to gain its members’ approval.

In a post on its Facebook page, NZNO said its negotiating team was ‘‘looking forward to meaningful discussions’’ to hammer out a multi-employer collective agreement that can be put before its members.

The union vowed to push for ‘‘a safe and sustainable health system’’ for its members which included nurses, healthcare assistants and midwives.

NZNO said it would report back on the offer today.

Yesterday’s meeting follows 24 hours of industrial action last Thursday. Nurses were striking for better pay and increased staffing, having rejected four previous deals put before them.

Last week, Health Minister David Clark said the offer to nurses was as good as it gets.

‘‘The Government has been clear that there is no money on the table to increase the salary package for nurses.

‘‘As a government, we did put in an extra $250 million in response to requests . . . but our ability to do that has come to end,’’ Clark said.

‘‘We want to manage the economy prudently and so that is the offer.’’

A DHBs spokeswoman was only able to confirm talks were taking place.

NZNO has also been approached for comment.