Otago Daily Times

Nurses call for action

- MIKE HOULAHAN Health reporter

PRIMARY care nurses took their call for pay parity to southern streets yesterday, picketing to mark a rare strike by the GP clinic and medical centre workers.

The strike by New Zealand Nurses Organisati­on members was unusual not just because they seldom walk off the job, but because GPs, senior doctors and other leading health industry groups all pledged their support to the nurses’ call for pay parity with their district health boardemplo­yed colleagues.

‘‘It is absolutely encouragin­g and it demonstrat­es the strong desire for the employers to be able to pay the nurses with parity, and fairly for their qualificat­ions and experience,’’ Dunedin NZNO organiser Colette Wright said.

‘‘It is a very big deal for our nurses to stand in front of the public and to show how passionate they are about primary health care.’’

In Invercargi­ll, about 30 nurses and administra­tion staff from Invercargi­ll and Bluff medical practices protested.

Invercargi­ll Medical Centre clinical nurse lead Toni Day said it was important for her to protest the wage disparity with DHB nurses.

Having worked as a nurse for the past 30 years, she had seen Primary Health Organisati­on nurses’ wages get further away from their hospital counterpar­ts.

‘‘We just want to be sure we have a wage that can attract nurses into the PHO system,’’ she said.

Queenstown Medical Centre nurse team leader Sarah Dennis said its 13strong team felt ‘‘ripped off’’ that their value was not adequately recognised, especially compared with their DHB counterpar­ts.

The Apex union has confirmed a strike today by Southern Community Laboratori­es technician­s will go ahead.

Staff yesterday rejected a late offer from their employers and the strike — a 24 hour full stoppage — went ahead.

Southern sites affected are

SCL labs in Timaru, Christchur­ch, Oamaru, Dunedin, Queenstown and Invercargi­ll, and related collection points. — Additional reporting Karen Pasco, Guy Williams

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 ?? PHOTOS: PETER MCINTOSH & GUY WILLIAMS ?? Sign of the times . . . Nurse Marg Hamilton flies the flag at a New Zealand Nurses Organisati­on protest in Dunedin yesterday. Below: Also on strike yesterday are Queenstown Medical Centre nurses (from left) Dee Robinson, Liz Taylor, Judy Reid, Natasha Frewen, Sarah Dennis, Suzie Hylton, Tayla Morris and Caro Funnell.
PHOTOS: PETER MCINTOSH & GUY WILLIAMS Sign of the times . . . Nurse Marg Hamilton flies the flag at a New Zealand Nurses Organisati­on protest in Dunedin yesterday. Below: Also on strike yesterday are Queenstown Medical Centre nurses (from left) Dee Robinson, Liz Taylor, Judy Reid, Natasha Frewen, Sarah Dennis, Suzie Hylton, Tayla Morris and Caro Funnell.
 ?? PHOTO: KAREN PASCO ?? Solidarity . . . Nurses and administra­tion staff from Invercargi­ll and Bluff lined up on Dee St yesterday asking motorists to ‘‘toot for support’’ at the New Zealand Nurses Organisati­on protest in Invercargi­ll.
PHOTO: KAREN PASCO Solidarity . . . Nurses and administra­tion staff from Invercargi­ll and Bluff lined up on Dee St yesterday asking motorists to ‘‘toot for support’’ at the New Zealand Nurses Organisati­on protest in Invercargi­ll.
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