Plans for new junior doctors’ strikes

WELLINGTON: Junior doctors ended their third strike yesterday morning, but are balloting for what would be an unprecedented fifth strike at public hospitals.

The doctors returned to work at 8am after twoday industrial action over their employment agreement.

A fourth 48hour strike begins on February 26 and, if approved by doctors in a week’s time, the fifth strike would begin on March 12.

But David Munro, a senior advocate for their union, the New Zealand Resident Doctors’ Association, said they remained optimistic a breakthrough can be reached.

Mr Munro said they need to keep the pressure on district health boards.

‘‘We’re balloting because our perception is the pressure is starting to see a change across the bargaining table, and we do remain optimistic.

‘‘We’ve got a day of mediated bargaining tomorrow in Wellington and we’re looking for a breakthrough. We want to see this dispute settled.’’

District health boards must realise the doctors would not agree to some proposed changes to the multiemployer collective agreement (MECA), he said.

‘‘We think the DHBs need to be aware that this campaign is not a flash in the pan; it’s got a lot of determination behind it.

‘‘We suspect that the DHBs thought that the RMOs [junior doctors] somehow would run out of puff and the campaign would lose its edge. That’s clearly not the case.’’

An estimated 1700 doctors took industrial action in their row with their employers over proposed changes to sections of their employment contract dealing with rosters.

Some senior doctors have demanded the junior doctors’ union and the district health boards settle the row — both for the sake of patients and exhausted senior doctors who are filling in. — RNZ