More than 36,000 Te Whatu Ora nurses, midwives, health care assistants and kaimahi hauora have voted for further strike action after Health NZ failed to resolve their ongoing concerns about understaffing, NZNO says.
Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) Chief Executive Paul Goulter says the Te Whatu Ora members voted strongly to go on strike on two days from 7am to 11pm on Tuesday 2 September and Thursday 4 September.
“Our members are clear that they want to keep fighting for the safety of their patients and to reduce preventable patient deaths.
“Nurses, midwives, health care assistants and kaimahi hauora have had enough of their patients waiting for care because they are too busy to get to them. They became health care workers because they want to help people and give them the care they need. Not risk their suffering due to a lack of staff.
“Patients are at risk because the Coalition Government is choosing cost cutting over patient need.”
Paul Goulter says strike notice will be issued to Te Whatu Ora to meet legal requirements in sufficient time to allow Life Preserving Services to be arranged and confirmed.