Nursing and midwifery DHB MECA rejected

The democratic, online voting process run by Electionz.com has resulted in the majority of members voting to reject the latest proposed DHB Nursing and Midwifery Multi-Employer Collective Agreement offer.

Voter turnout was very high and the result was closer than last time.

Industrial Services Manage Cee Payne confirms that industrial action will go ahead this Thursday 12 May with a nationwide 24 hour strike starting at 0700 and finishing 0700 Friday 13 July. There are potentially over 30,000 NZNO members involved. Many staff covered by the DHB MECA have agreed to provide life preserving services over the duration of the strike.

“Life preserving services and contingency plans are coming to completion with the twenty district health boards. We are confident that these will be in place as patient safety and public safety is paramount,” Cee Payne said.

DHBs have requested a reconvening of facilitation. NZNO had an obligation to respond without knowing the outcome of the ballot.

“In response we have stated that the unavailability of additional funding to support an improved offer has led NZNO to the conclusion that facilitation is not the appropriate forum to address the current difficulties in the DHB /NZNO MECA at this time.

“The issues faced and reported by our members have arisen from a decade of severe underfunding of our public hospitals which have failed to keep pace with growing community need, the ageing population and workforce, and increased costs,” Cee Payne said.