PSA Allied, Public Health and Technical proposed strike

Public Service Association (PSA) Allied, Public Health and Technical health workers at Whanganui DHB are planning industrial action over the period Monday 9 May 2022 to 20 May 2022. This will be a 2 week work to rule, which involves staff ensuring they keep strict work hours and breaks, and a full withdrawal of labour from 1159pm Sunday the 15th of May 22 to 1159pm Monday the 16th of May 2022.

The 20 DHBs have been negotiating with the PSA Allied Public Health and Technical MECA (PSA PHT) workers including Alcohol and other drugs clinicians, Therapy Assistants, Anaesthetic Technicians, Audiologists, Occupational Therapist, Speech Language Therapists, Dietetics, Family Violence Clinicians, Haumoana Navigators and cultural support, Dental Assistants, Dental Technicians, Health Promotion Advisors, Hearing/Vision Technicians, Sterile Services Technicians, Social Workers and Physiotherapists since September 2020. The negotiations have not been successful to date and have led to recent strike notification from the union to the DHBs in February 2022.

The groups covered by this agreement are a highly valuable part of the health workforce. DHBs will continue to work with the union to try and find a settlement and avoid the upcoming strike.

What will this mean for our patients and public?

The DHB and the PSA have been working to ensure emergency and acute services continue during the strike and anyone who needs urgent treatment should come to the hospital.

Through planning leading up to the strike, it is hoped there will little to no disruption to services during the work to rule period. During full withdrawal services, there is anticipated cancellation of some non-urgent surgeries, School dental clinics, outpatient appointments for Audiology and Therapies and Alcohol and Other Drug clinics for Community Mental Health. Maternal Infant Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (MiCAMHS) will have a reduction in outpatient services and the Hospital pharmacy will process urgent requests only. Vaccination clinics will remain open.

Anyone affected will be advised and new times rescheduled.