Nurses reject pay offer, strike action on the way

The Nurses Organisation has rejected its own proposal over pay and worker conditions, Health Minister Andrew Little says.

The union rejected the Government’s pay offer in a ballot that closed Thursday evening and said strikes planned for August 19 and September 9 and 10 would go ahead “unless an acceptable offer is made”.

Little issued a strong statement yesterday in response, and in a rare move released full details of the pay offer, which is still part of negotiations.

Little said the pay offer, worth $408 million, would put an extra $13,000 over the next year in the pockets of every full-time employee covered by the collective agreement.

This included lifting base pay-rates by $1800 a year, plus a lump-sum payment of $1200.

It also included an advance on the settlement of the pay-equity claim, a $4000-a-year pay rise and a lump-sum payment of $6000.

Little said the nurses had not provided a better way to address their concerns.

The NZNO was not immediately available for a response to Little’s comments.

Lead advocate David Wait said earlier while the DHBs had made promising moves on pay, the offer contained “too many ambiguities”.

“Better pay will make nursing more attractive, but it is not clear how the DHBs will be held accountable if they do not provide safe staffing.

“Nurses don’t want more vague promises that the problem will be fixed in the future — which is what we have received once again.”

Nurses were standing up for the future of their profession and wellbeing of New Zealanders, Wait said.

“This won’t happen until the DHBs put accountability systems in place so nurses know things really will change and that their employers will listen when they feel unsafe at work.”

The NZNO would continue with negotiation, bargaining and mediation with district health boards (DHBs), Wait said.

“We want the DHBs to come back with an offer that provides certainty over how safe staffing will be addressed. “Members are tired of ambiguity.” Whether or not the strikes would go ahead depended on negotiations, Wait said.

In a statement, DHB spokesman Dale Oliff said the DHBs were surprised by the response from the NZNO.

“The package was a significant increase on the last offer with several initiatives to help address workforce shortages and safe staffing, significant increases on base rates, and lump sums totalling $7200.

“Negotiation involves a degree of realism and compromise, DHBs have shown we’re prepared to move and I’d urge the NZNO and its members to reconsider their position,” Oliff said.