Nurses take vote

Nursing staff have voted to ask the Employment Relations Authority for a final determination on a proposed pay equity settlement. The Nurses Organisation says there are three issues — a technical point about the review process; concern about rates for senior nurses; and backdating pay. Chief executive Paul Goulter said they would seek urgency from the Authority, with mediation or facilitation among the options. He says they’d like to think DHBs would also like this cleaned up as quickly as possible.