Sonographers union calls on Auckland DHBs to avoid unprecedented 12-week strike, long-term waitlist blowouts

APEX Sonographers employed by Auckland, Counties Manukau and Waitemata DHBs will embark tomorrow on an unprecedented 12-week long partial strike set to run from tomorrow until ANZAC Day.

Over 90% of all sonographers across the three DHBs will be on strike, with major disruption expected. The strike action will include overtime bans and bans on performing ultrasound scanning for all GP referrals and outpatients. This will be the first ever protracted strike of this nature in the health sector.

If the strike is allowed to run its full course, Aucklanders can expect to see record waitlists and long-term delays in the diagnosis and commencement of treatment for many serious conditions, including cardiovascular disease, New Zealand’s biggest killer.

But APEX Advocate Luke Coxon says it is the DHBs who have triggered this dramatic escalation:

“There is a major workforce crisis brewing here, but from day one the DHBs have adopted a stubborn ‘take it or leave it’ approach to bargaining instead of working with us to reach a deal.

It has been over 6 months now and we have tried everything – bargaining, mediation, shorter strikes. The DHBs’ response has been to double down and to punitively withdraw backpay. This is backwards.

We have been left with no choice but to take this drastic action and to request facilitated bargaining.”

Facilitation is a process administered by the Employment Relations Authority intended to help parties to overcome serious difficulties in collective bargaining. APEX applied for Facilitation earlier this week. The DHBs are still deciding if they will oppose our application for facilitation.

“The onus is now on the employers. It would be irresponsible for the DHBs to oppose facilitation and not bargain, when the timely treatment of thousands of New Zealanders hangs in the balance”, Mr Coxon concluded.