Nurses vote to go on 24-hour strike, citing safe staffing concerns
Photo:
RNZ
More than 36,000 Te Whatu Ora nurses, midwives, health care assistants and kaimahi hauora have voted to strike for 24 hours of what they say is a failure by Health NZ to address their safe staffing concerns.
The Nurses Organisation took a ballot of its members on possible industrial action, that would start with a 24-hour strike on July the 30th.
A series of other actions would follow.
Health NZ is offering a 3 percent pay rise over two years, plus two payments of $325.
The union said the agency was
refusing to provide safe staffing levels
in its latest contract offer.
Health New Zealand's latest pay offer was a "massive backward step" for the health system and patients, and there were "very strong indications" members will want to strike, the union said.
Health New Zealand told RNZ it was committed to reaching an agreement, but it was also "operating within tight financial constraints".
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