CTU MEDIA RELEASE

15 December 2005

Parity needed for primary health nurses

“Nurses are an essential element of the government’s primary health care strategy, and the work they do needs to be valued and rewarded appropriately,” said Ross Wilson, Council of Trade Unions President today.

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation launched their petition today calling for additional government funding to deliver pay parity for nurses in primary health with their counterparts in District Health Boards, ahead of bargaining next week for their multi employer collective agreement.

“Last year’s historic national agreement for nurses employed by District Health Boards was made possible through increased government funding to DHB’s.  That settlement left nurses in primary health lagging behind however, and the CTU supports the Nurses Organisation’s call for further government funding to close the pay gap for these nurses.”

“The government is depending on nurses for the effective implementation of its primary health strategy.  Current funding available for PHOs and other primary health care services is not adequate for pay parity with DHBs, and this needs to be addressed by government as part of the bargaining due to begin next week,” said Ross Wilson.

ENDS