Nursing reports

New Zealand Nurses Organisation media release, 9 November 2020

Primary Health Care (PHC) nurses and administration/reception staff say all they are asking for is their due respect and to receive equal pay with their DHB colleagues for work of equal value.

Around 3200 PHC members of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation are on strike across the country from 8am today until 8am Tuesday morning. Rallies will also be held in many towns and cities from 12-1pm today.

NZNO Industrial Advisor Chris Wilson says members cannot understand why no one among the funders and the Government seems to care that PHC nurses continue to be paid up to 10.6 percent less than their colleagues working in DHB hospitals, even though their work has been crucial to the COVID-19 response.

“Our PHC workers are feeling really angry and like they’ve just been fobbed off over and over again, when what they are asking for is only just and fair. It’s completely unfathomable to them that they have to go on strike before they can receive the acknowledgement and respect fair wages would achieve.”

Negotiations with employers have been going on for a year, with employers saying they want to pay more but cannot because the Government-controlled funding model is broken.

“We’ve been told repeatedly by various Ministers of Health that this isn’t the Government’s problem but it clearly is,” Ms Wilson said.

“They control the funding, and they will face the crisis when PHC nurses and support workers (who staff GP practices and accidents/emergency centres) leave the sector for better pay. We know this will happen, and employers say they are already facing serious staff recruitment and retention issues.”

Ms Wilson said notice has already been served to employers of another one-day strike on 23 November.

“Hopefully common sense and decency will prevail in this the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife so further strike action can be avoided. This shouldn’t have to happen, but our members are resolute and will not back down until real progress is made towards pay parity with their DHB colleagues.”

-Ends-

Media inquiries: Rob Zorn, NZNO Media and Communications Advisor: 027 431 2617.

MORE INFORMATION

Today’s strike rallies

New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) Primary Health Care Nurses and staff members will be holding rallies in support of their 24 hour strike. Members and supporters will be holding signs with key messages on them and handing out leaflets detailing their dispute.

When: 9 November 2020, 12pm-1pm

Where:

Whangārei – Canopy Bridge, Town Basin 12pm-1pm

Auckland – Victoria Park (Halsey Street end) 12pm-1pm

Hamilton – Cnr of Tristram and Mill Streets 12pm-1pm

Tauranga – Gate Pa Shopping Centre, corner of Cameron Rd and 23rd Ave 12pm-1pm

Feilding – Feilding Clock Tower 12pm-1pm

Hawera – Corner of High Street and Waihi Road 12-1pm.

Wellington and surrounding areas – Midland Park, cnr Lambton Quay and Waring Taylor Street and march to the Ministry of Health 133 Molesworth Street 12pm-1pm

Blenheim – Seymour Park 12pm-1pm

Nelson – Tahuna Beach/Rocks Road 12pm-1pm

Motueka – Motueka Museum 12pm-1pm

Christchurch – Cnr of Bealey Avenue and Madras Street 12pm-1pm

Dunedin – Queens Gardens 12pm-1pm

Invercargill – Wachner Place 12pm-1pm

New Zealand Nurses Organisation media release, 7 November 2020

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation says the fact that an Auckland MIQ worker has contracted COVID-19, as announced yesterday, is both disappointing and troubling, but not at all surprising.

NZNO Associate Professional Services Manager Kate Weston says Counties Manukau District Health Board (CMDHB) has failed to address serious systemic problems at Auckland MIQ facilities since they took over as the employer for clinical staff at the end of September.

“Members tell us there is not consistent access to N95 masks, and that they are not being fit tested for these masks, which is important for their safe use. While the DHB say they have been fit testing for the last couple of weeks it could not tell us how many staff had been fit tested or when procedures would be in place to fit test all staff.

“Likewise they have no clear plans in place which will address the short-staffing our members’ report with the urgency required.”

Ms Weston said this was simply not good enough considering how long NZNO has been in talks with CMDHB about these issues, and because no lessons seem to have been learned.

“Inadequate access to PPE and poor training in its use has been an issue we’ve known about since this all began, and here we are again. That this is still happening is completely shocking and matter of huge public concern.

“New Zealand is in a privileged position internationally, but workers protecting our borders are becoming infected because an overwhelmed system cannot cope. More must be done to protect our workers and protect our community.”

Ms Weston again called for a full and urgent review of how MIQ facilities are run to identify systemic failures.

“We need to identify systemic problems across the board and address them with urgency. We need CMDHB to listen to our members’ concerns and provide more than vague plans. Our members are working in unsafe conditions, and they feel fearful, angry and frustrated.

“Until these issues are resolved the risk to New Zealanders will remain very real because we can expect more nurses and other health workers will contract COVID-19.” 

NZNO is in talks with several DHBs and is also working closely with other CTU affiliated unions and MBIE to develop a Work Participation Agreement (WPA). This WPA will be applicable to all workers across all MIQ facilities in New Zealand. The WPA will be a mechanism to ensure worker engagement participation and representation for all workers in these facilities around all health and safety matters.

-Ends-

Media inquiries: Rob Zorn, NZNO Media and Communications Advisor: 027 431 2617.

New Zealand Nurses Organisation media release, 4 November 2020

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) says two health workers infected with COVID-19 in Christchurch are a symptom of systemic, structural problems with the way managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) facilities are being managed in New Zealand that threaten the wellbeing of nurses and other health workers – and indeed the whole country.

NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku said NZNO is also aware of significant problems in Auckland facilities managed by Counties Manukau DHB, where nurses and health workers are under-staffed, have insufficient access to PPE and do not have the support in place to enable them to care for the large influx of quarantined people – whose needs are also being neglected.

“Our members are telling us they are anxious and fearful. The woeful working conditions at these facilities are leading to unsafe practices which put their health at risk. This puts those they care for at risk and poses a threat to the border and therefore to the welfare of the public.

“This is important because it is our border control that sets us apart from other countries and keeps us all safe.”

Ms Nuku said this is not an isolated problem, and nor is it one that will go away without concerted action.

“If these systemic issues are not identified and remedied, this will be an ongoing problem. The health and spiritual and cultural needs of the overseas people in MIQ have been radically underestimated and there just aren’t the staff or resources available to meet those needs.”

Ms Nuku repeated NZNO’s call for a review of how MIQ facilities are run to identify systemic failures, and said she feared more health workers would become infected if this was not done urgently.

“We need assurances across the board that our members will be cared for and safe, because at the moment they are telling us they are not.”

NZNO Industrial Adviser DHB David Wait said the conditions for workers in these facilities had been exacerbated by problems with rostering and inadequate pay for nurses and other health staff working in MIQ facilities, and that NZNO organisers had been working tirelessly with members to identify and address these issues.

“Counties Manukau DHB has taken steps to fix its payroll issues and has provided assurances to NZNO members about their hours of work.

“They are also engaging with us to address concerns over unsafe staffing and we believe they are taking these concerns seriously. However, we need urgent action over promises. Until these issues are resolved finding sufficient staff will be especially challenging and the threat to New Zealanders will remain very real.”  

NZNO is working closely with other CTU affiliated unions and MBIE to develop a Work Participation Agreement (WPA). This WPA will be applicable to all workers across all MIQ facilities in New Zealand. The WPA will be a mechanism to ensure worker engagement participation and representation for all workers in these facilities around all health and safety matters.

-Ends-

Media inquiries: Rob Zorn, NZNO Media and Communications Advisor: 027 431 2617.

New Zealand Nurses Organisation media release, 23 October 2020

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) has issued a strike notice today covering some 3200 Primary Health Care (PHC) nurses and receptionist/administration staff across more than 500 practices and accident/medical centres nationwide.

The first 24 hour strike is set for 9 November with a further 24 hour strike scheduled to take place on 23 November.

PHC members voted overwhelmingly in favour of the strikes and the union says that’s a clear indication of their frustration, anger and disappointment – and of how tired they are of being constantly undervalued after 10 months of fruitless negotiations.

This follows two national rounds of stop work meetings and a one day strike on 3 September.

NZNO Industrial Advisor Chris Wilson said that, despite assurances from the Ministry of Health, DHB representatives and employers in September that there is finally a commitment to pay parity with staff employed in DHBs, there has been no tangible progress to enable a return to the negotiating table, so the strike notice has been served.

"It is very disappointing that we have to take this step. Funders and the Government must join with the employers of this workforce and act with urgency to appropriately value their primary health care workforce and halt the staff recruitment and retention issues plaguing the sector.

“Just this week the Minister of Health has encouraged us to continue using the Employment Relations Authority to help progress a settlement, but we have already been to mediation with no progress because the Government will not address the funding issue at the heart of the problem.

“Our members are now feeling more fobbed off and angrier than ever.”

Ms Wilson said it was unfathomable that strike action should be required, with significant disruptions to services in the community, when all these PHC nurses and staff want is to be paid the same.

“They are not asking more than what is just – equal pay for work of equal value. There is still an opportunity to get around the table and find a solution and NZNO is willing to meet at any time to resolve this impasse.”

-Ends-

Media inquiries: Rob Zorn, NZNO Media and Communications Advisor: 027 431 2617.

New Zealand Nurses Organisation media release, 19 October 2020

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) congratulates the Labour Party on its historic election win and promises to work with the new Government so that progress in health can “keep moving” in Aotearoa New Zealand.

NZNO President Heather Symes said both NZNO and the Government have a lot on their agendas in the coming year.

“We both want the same thing – a first rate health system where people are cared for as best as possible, and in which every health worker is safe and fairly paid.

“The Government has a clear mandate to progress with its agenda and NZNO is keen to work together in good faith on issues such as how improvements in health funding will keep moving forward and how the Government will address the findings of this year’s Health and Disability Commissioner’s report.”

NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku said NZNO has worked steadfastly with the Government on these issues and pledges to continue doing so.

“We also share a commitment to pay parity for nurses and all health workers across the sector, and an end to persistent discrepancies in pay levels between those who work in district health boards and those who work in Primary Care.

“People working for Māori and Iwi health providers often work for 30 percent less than those working in public hospitals, despite having the same qualifications, experience and commitment to their employers and patients. This sort of historic injustice has to end right now.”

Ms Nuku and Ms Symes said that on NZNO’s agenda at present are several high level multi-employer collective agreements (MECAs) and, together with other unions, a pay equity initiative through which nurses will be paid the same as those working in similar but male-dominated professions.

“COVID-19 has ushered us all into a brave new world and that means we have to be brave and face our issues squarely so we do what’s right and just without delay. That’s what keeping moving means,” they say.

-Ends-

Media inquiries: Rob Zorn, NZNO Media and Communications Advisor: 027 431 2617.

New Zealand Nurses Organisation media release, 15 October 2020

3200 Primary Health Care (PHC) nurses and staff members employed in more than 500 general practices and accident and medical centres will commence voting today on a second round of strike action. Two 24 hour strikes two weeks apart on Monday 9 November and Monday 23 November have been proposed.

This follows two national rounds of stop work meetings and a one day strike on 3 September.

NZNO Industrial Advisor Chris Wilson said that it was positive to finally hear from the Ministry of Health and DHB representatives that, jointly with employers, there is now a commitment to pay parity in the PHC MECA, particularly after one year of extensive lobbying. However, she said this was not evident at the negotiations that followed on 28 September.

Consequently, at stop work meetings on 30 September, NZNO members overwhelmingly passed a resolution to commence a ballot for further industrial action if, by 14 October, additional funding could not be allocated to allow negotiations to resume.

This timeframe was proposed in good faith to allow for a resolution without further disruption to PHC services. Despite this, Ms Wilson says there has been no progress to enable a return to the negotiating table.

“It is frustrating and disappointing that we have to take this step. Funders and the Government must join with the employers of this workforce and act with urgency to appropriately value their primary health care workforce and halt the staff recruitment and retention issues plaguing the sector.

“We are constantly hearing about nurses who have left to work outside Primary Health Care and that’s because of the 10.6 percent pay parity gap, not because they are not committed to the PHC sector.”

Ms Wilson said this crisis scenario can be avoided but only through commitment to an urgent resolution.

“Just about every day we hear of new funding being provided for other matters. It’s not okay to say that pay parity is a recognised issue, and then to simply fob our members off in terms of urgency to resolve the matter.”

NZNO wrote an open letter to the Prime Minster on 6 October saying that in this International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife she has the chance to recognise the value of all nurses and midwives and those who support their work.

Individual NZNO members were also encouraged to write to Ms Ardern about their concerns, and extracts from those letters are included below.

-Ends-

"As you are aware Prime Minister, these discussions have been going on for quite some time, and as if it hasn't been demoralising enough, many of us have front lined during COVID, swabbing, assessing, leaving our whānau for the greater good each day knowing we may bring it home to them or not return at all."

“We were recently recruiting for a nurse in our urgent care service and only received one applicant because we are offering a pay rate of 10.6% less than the DHB.”

“I have worked for 16 years in PHC having previously worked as a neonatal intensivist for 14 years and I can assure you I work as hard in PHC.”

“I do everything to prevent patients having to be referred to secondary and tertiary services which cost more.”

“We are leaving this profession for lack of recognition in what we do. How will practice nursing survive if the pay isn’t there to recruit and retain?”

“At least acknowledge our struggles and show some respect and dignity to all the highly trained nurses who make a huge difference in the health of the community.”

“The fact we are paid 10.6 percent less demeans us as a nurses and makes us feel inadequate when our roles are crucial in reducing the patient flow and effect on DHB workers by keeping patients out of [hospitals].”

“$7,600 base pay less per year than my DHB colleagues means I don’t have the same opportunities to support my whānau, yet I am equally qualified and skilled.”

-Ends-

Media inquiries: Rob Zorn, NZNO Media and Communications Advisor: 027 431 2617.

New Zealand Nurses Organisation media release, 6 October 2020

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) has today sent an open letter to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern asking why her Government has shown no urgency in helping find the money to provide pay parity for its Primary Health Care members who work in general practices and accident and medical centres.

The letter expresses the frustration felt by these nurses and receptionists/administrators whose year-long fight for pay parity with their colleagues employed in DHBs has included a full day strike on 3 September.

“2020 is the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife,” the letter says, but these workers say they feel disappointed that despite this, and their proven value as the front line response to the global pandemic, their calls have been ignored.

The letter asks the Prime Minister six direct questions that include why a Government with a stated commitment to pay parity cannot find the relatively minor funds to solve the problem, and what it plans to do to resolve the shortage of nurses and support workers that will result because so many are seriously considering leaving the sector for better pay.

At recent stop work meetings NZNO Primary Health Care members overwhelmingly passed a resolution to commence a ballot for further industrial action if additional funding could not urgently be found to allow negotiations to resume.

The letter asks Ms Ardern to understand that members are very frustrated and angry at having to consider further industrial action. It says she has the chance to be leading the Government that, in the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, will recognise the value of nurses and those who work to support them.

“Given the year we have had, what better way of achieving that is there than to urgently resolve this matter; to acknowledge the value of their work; and to show you want them to continue to use their expertise in keeping us healthy?”

In support of the open letter, individual NZNO Primary Health Care members will also be writing to the Prime Minister telling her in their own words what earning less means for them personally and about the extra pressure at work caused by staff recruitment and retention issues.

Read the open letter.

-Ends-

Media inquiries: Rob Zorn, NZNO Media and Communications Advisor: 027 431 2617.

More than 3,400 primary health workers across more than 500 general practices and accident and medical centres have voted overwhelmingly for further industrial action if there is no resolution that addresses pay parity.

The resolution adopted at the 34 stop work meetings held on Wednesday 30 September reads, "Unless there is additional funding allocated for pay parity enabling negotiations to resume on this basis by 14 October we support a ballot then commencing for further industrial action."

NZNO Primary Health Care (PHC) Industrial Advisor Chris Wilson said this time-frame has been proposed, in good faith, to allow for a resolution without further disruption to Primary Health Care (PHC) services. In the meantime, NZNO is discussing with members what form that industrial action will take if it has to go ahead.

Following a meeting on 24 September between Ministry of Health (MOH) and DHB representatives, the NZMA and Green Cross Health, they put out this key message:

"The Ministry of Health, DHB representatives, the NZMA and Green Cross Health met on 24 September 2020 to gain a common understanding of progress in the Primary Care MECA bargaining. It was a useful and productive meeting during which all meeting attendees gained a better appreciation of the issues, and recognised and agreed on the need for a consistent, sustainable approach to pay parity across the health system. Primary care nurses are seen as a priority workforce for progressing pay parity. Meeting attendees have agreed to work together on this issue, with an initial focus on the Primary Care MECA."

Ms Wilson said that while it was positive to hear there is now a commitment to pay parity in the PHC MECA, particularly after one year of extensive lobbying, this was not evident at negotiations that followed on 28 September. Instead NZNO were informed by the employer parties that matters are still being worked on by the DHB and MOH and that it may take some weeks.

"Our members have said this is simply not good enough. They are not prepared to be fobbed off with a statement like this, particularly when projected costings and extensive information was given to the then Minister of Health a year ago," she said.

"We are constantly hearing about nurses who have changed jobs outside of Primary Health Care and that’s because of the 10.6% pay parity gap not because they are not committed to the PHC sector," she said.

"We can avoid this crisis scenario, but it requires a commitment to an urgent resolution," says Ms Wilson.

New Zealand Nurses Organisation media release, 18 September 2020

Each year the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) presents Service to Nursing and Midwifery Awards as a way of recognising nurses or midwives who are NZNO members and who have made a positive difference to nursing or midwifery practice or practice environment.

The Award was presented on 17 September at NZNO’s online AGM to Waitematā-based registered nurse Bronwyn Kavalinovich. A longstanding member and delegate for NZNO’s Greater Auckland Region, her nominators say Bronwyn has been a strong advocate for patient rights and women’s rights around informed consent.

“Bronwyn advocated for both patient and staff adherence to the informed consent process for operations where others were present as observers,” say nominators Esther Linklater and Geraldine Kirkwood.

“This process took several years, and Bronwyn faced some stiff opposition regarding the concerns she had raised and continued to raise at every opportunity while advocating for patients.”  

Bronwyn says she was surprised to receive the Award and that she feels incredibly humbled and honoured.

“I am so grateful and really want to thank my nominators and the wonderful staff at NZNO, such as Professional Nursing Advisor Kate Weston. It was so good to be working with NZNO to advocate for patients and to instigate a much needed change.”

Bronwyn says that, while she enjoys her current work, she is looking to the future and possible work more directly involved with patient advocacy.

-Ends-

Media inquiries: Rob Zorn, NZNO Media and Communications Advisor: 027 431 2617.

New Zealand Nurses Organisation media release, 17 September 2020

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation’s (NZNO’s) Young Nurse of the Year Award was presented at the organisation’s online Annual General Meeting today.

The recipient was Kelly Talbot, a 29-year-old clinical nurse specialist at Southern Cross Hospital and student nurse educator at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, based in Rotorua. Competition was close but the judging panel said Kelly just had the edge because she manages to work across two very complex sectors – education and acute care – in a way that is recognised as outstanding by her colleagues.

Kelly’s nominators say she has earned a solid reputation for hard work, straight talking, competent leadership and fine teaching. They commend her compassion, courage and commitment to te Tiriti o Waitangi, and say her teaching style enriches the learning experiences of students and potential future colleagues.

They also say she is able to educate patients, putting things into terms they can really understand.

Her nomination was accompanied by several supporting letters from her students who describe her as ‘fantastic’, ‘encouraging’, ‘approachable’, ‘helpful’, and ‘professional’.

Kelly says she was shocked to have received such recognition.

“Being told there was a panel of people who loved reading about my journey and my work made me teary-eyed, but I feel very proud and honoured.”

She says she absolutely enjoys her work.

“I remember being a student myself, trying to juggle my daughter, work and study. Times were tough and I love that now, as a student nurse educator, I have the opportunity to support and mentor students while on their clinical placements.

“It’s great that I can help build on their clinical knowledge with my teaching, seeing their confidence grow and being there to support them when they feel like giving up.”

Kelly’s plans for the future are to keep developing the pre-admission clinic she currently works at so patient outcomes continue to improve. She’d also like to do an education paper to enhance her teaching skills.

She says she will use the prize money to help fund her last postgraduate paper for her Masters, which she hopes to complete early next year.

The 2020 judging panel consisted of representatives from the award’s sponsor All District Health Boards, NZNO and the Nursing Education and Research Foundation, alongside previous joint winners Aroha Ruha-Hiraka and Annie Stevenson.

-Ends-

Media inquiries: Rob Zorn, NZNO Media and Communications Advisor. 027 431 2617.