The Nurses Organisation in New Zealand has announced a nationwide strike in response to an ongoing pay dispute with Health NZ. Scheduled for December 3, the strike will take place from 11 AM to 7 PM, with subsequent rolling strikes planned across various districts over the following two weeks.
According to Paul Goulter, the chief executive of the Nurses Organisation, nurses across public hospitals in New Zealand are feeling increasingly undervalued. They are expressing concerns that patient safety is being compromised due to the current situation. Goulter emphasized that despite reassurances from Health NZ regarding the value of nurses’ work, the reality does not reflect this sentiment.
Health NZ has proposed pay increases that fall significantly short of what nurses believe they deserve. The organization has capped any wage increase at just 1 percent of total employee costs, translating to a mere 0.5 percent increase in the first year, which would not take effect until April 2025. The proposed increase for the second year remains capped at 1 percent as well.
Such offers are perceived by the Nurses Organisation as effectively a pay cut, given that they do not align with the rising cost of living and inflation rates. The union, which represents approximately 56,000 nurses and health workers, argues that nurses require wage increases that not only match the cost of living but also reflect their skills and expertise.
In addition to pay concerns, nurses are alarmed by plans to suspend a digital staffing system utilized in hospitals to determine the necessary number of full-time staff on duty at any time. The union warns that this suspension could lead to insufficient staffing levels, resulting in fewer nurses, midwives, health care assistants, and kaimahi hauora available to care for patients.
The potential impact of these staffing cuts could jeopardize the safety and well-being of patients and their families. The Nurses Organisation asserts that under-staffed and under-resourced hospitals will ultimately compromise patient care.
The Nurses Organisation plans to formally notify Te Whatu Ora, the health authority, of the impending strike on Monday. As of now, Te Whatu Ora has been approached for comment regarding the situation.
This strike action highlights the growing frustrations among healthcare professionals in New Zealand, who are advocating for better working conditions, fair compensation, and adequate staffing levels to ensure the safety of their patients.
As nurses prepare for these significant actions, the healthcare community and the public are watching closely to see how this dispute unfolds and what it means for the future of healthcare services in New Zealand.
