Another strike possible
A third junior doctor strike is possible, but it may be avoided if a resolution is found.
Resident – or junior – doctors across the country have already walked off the job twice in the past five months in protest over working hours and rosters.
Now, a third strike is potentially on the cards if the New Zealand Resident Doctors’ Association and the country’s district health boards cannot reach an agreement.
Union members have been balloted for a third strike, but negotiations between both parties are still continuing.
Association secretary Deborah Powell said the situation was ‘‘delicate’’ and they were still awaiting a response from the DHBS.
Powell said although striking was an option, they were ‘‘concentrating on progressing resolution’’.
Both sides have been locked in talks since December 2015.
Some progress appeared to be made prior to the second strike in January, when the association issued a note to its members that it could be called off.
However, that was shortlived, with the 73-hour strike proceeding as planned.
Time is now running out for both sides, with the association contract with DHBS set to expire in March, leaving no collective contract option for new employees.
Concerns were raised at a Midcentral DHB meeting this week.
Board member Karen Naylor said she was worried about the risks that the ongoing saga posed to the Palmerston North Hospital.
‘‘This process has gone on for quite some time now and with a level of uncertainty about when that will be resolved.
‘‘What are the risks we should be considering?’’
Midcentral clinical services and transformation general manager Mike Grant said they needed the ongoing goodwill of the senior doctors.
‘‘We are reliant on the goodwill of the senior doctor community. That is well recognised nationally.
‘‘It would be fair to say there is a considerable effort going into resolving this.’’
Midcentral people and culture
"This process has gone on for quite some time now and with a level of uncertainty about when that will be resolved." Karen Naylor
general manager Janine Hearn said union members had been balloted for another strike, but noted if the current offer were accepted, that would not happen.
Senior doctor union, the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS), has said it will continue its goodwill.
ASMS executive director Ian Powell said they would not be criticising any further strike action.
The union had previously asked for its members to be paid $568 an hour for staff working extra hours or shifts while the strike was on.
A Midcentral DHB spokesman said it was too early to know the cost of the second strike.
The strike in October cost Midcentral $230,000 over its normal spending.
Prior to the January strike, the DHB estimated it would undergo a similar amount of work as during the October strike.
At Palmerston North Hospital, 120 staff took part in the second round of industrial action.
This forced 400 clinic appointments and 75 elective surgeries to be delayed.