Nurses and other primary healthcare (PHC) workers are set to strike on September 3 unless mediation, taking place on Tuesday, can resolve pay parity issues between PHC and DHBs.
On August 19, the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) issued a strike notice covering 3200 PHC nurses and receptionists/administrators across over 500 practices nationwide.
NZNO industrial advisor Chris Wilson says additional government funding needs to be provided to PHC quickly if a resolution is to be reached and mediation is the "last chance" to make it happen.
"Our PHC members have had enough of constantly hearing how valuable they are when absolutely no effort is being made to show that value in any tangible way," Wilson says.
"They hear themselves praised at daily press conferences as part of a 'dedicated and responsive COVID-19 workforce", and then they hear the Government saying their pay is not its problem."
Wilson says the Government's stance on staying out of private-sector negotiations is "unhelpful" and not the NZNO's experience, citing additional funding for early childhood teachers authorised in May despite being private sector workplaces.
"Our situation is no different as PHC nurse recruitment and retention issues are at an all-time high. Our members just want to be paid the same as their DHB counterparts and a mere $15 million is all that is required."
An experienced nurse in PHC earns 10.6 percent less than a hospital nurse and some medical receptionist/administration workers earn lower than the living wage.
NZNO and employer advocates at the NZ Medical Association and Green Cross Heath have approached the Ministry of Health and Government on several occasions with no success.
Wilson says if the "political will" to fund PHC was there then NZNO could achieve a resolution without needing a strike but they are now "down to the wire".
"It is very disappointing nothing tangible has been forthcoming," he says.
Wilson says PHC members understand the implications of participating in a strike during a pandemic. NZNO is in the process of confirming a protocol with the employer representatives to determine whether patient safety is at risk in terms of emergency care during the strike.
