Tomorrow’s 24-strike by more than 36,000 Te Whatu Ora nurses, midwives, health care assistants and kaimahi hauora will go ahead after Health NZ failed again to agree to recruit to safe staffing levels, NZNO says.
Eleventh hour mediation was held yesterday between Te Whatu Ora and Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO).
NZNO Chief Executive Paul Goulter says there was no new offer from Te Whatu Ora to put to members.
"Disappointingly, Te Whatu Ora refused to meet our urgent claim to recruit into roles identified as being necessary for safe staffing.
"NZNO has raised concerns about chronic and ongoing staff shortages continually throughout the collective agreement bargaining process which began last September."
Paul Goulter says NZNO members are adamant they are in this for the long haul, for the sake of their patients.
"This strike is just the beginning. At their request, members at Auckland City Hospital’s Cardiothoracic and Vascular Intensive Care Unit and Whangārei Base Hospital’s Ward 4 are balloting on a week-long redeployment strike next month. In Christchurch, also at their request, members are balloting on a two-hour full strike for workers in Theatre, Post-Anaesthetic Care Unit and Radiology at Christchurch Hospital.
"If Te Whatu Ora is committed to safe staffing, as it claims, it will ensure patients can get the care they need by ensuring there are enough nurses, midwives, healthcare assistants and kaimahi hauora.
"If Te Whatu Ora truly values nurses, as it claims, it will ensure they are not under-staffed, under-resourced and overworked," Paul Goulter says.
Editor notes:
- The nationwide strike will be held from 9am on Wednesday 30 July until 9am on Thursday 31 July.
- Details of localised strike day actions can be found on the NZNO Maranga Mai! website.
- The strike will be a complete withdrawal of labour at every place in New Zealand where Te Whatu Ora provides health care or hospital care services.
- Life preserving services will continue to be provided.