District health boards have gone to court to try to stop a planned strike by about 10,000 health workers on Friday.
Health workers from the Public Service Association union including lab scientists, anaesthetic technicians and pharmacists plan to walk off the job for 24 hours from Friday morning.
But the DHBs say it is not the right time for a strike and they are asking the Employment Court to force a postponement to allow further talks next week.
In a statement, DHB spokesperson Keriana Brooking said patient services should not be used for bargaining leverage.
"Omicron has completely changed the normal operating environment. Infection rates have increased dramatically and so has the pressure on DHB delivered hospital and community services.
"We have facilitation with the Employment Relations Authority set down next Monday and Tuesday and we need to give that process a chance before disrupting patient services just as Omicron is peaking," she said.
Brooking said pay equity is at the heart of the strike, but it should not be bundled up with pay talks as they are completely separate processes.
Last week, one PSA delegate said health workers were "understaffed and overworked".
The PSA has launched a petition calling on the government to make an offer that addresses the pay, progression, retention and skill mix.
RNZ
