The nurses' strike affects 450 patients



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The Southern District Health Board began contacting hundreds of patients to cancel and change reserved appointments for tomorrow, after the nurses voted for the strike.

Up to 75% of front-line workers will be absent tomorrow strike workers of the New Zealand Nurses Organization

Facilitation discussions ordered by the Authority labor relations are underway, but NZNO members reject the latest DHB wage offer and the government says there is more money "

About 450 patients Dunedin and Southland hospitals will be affected by the strike.

"We sincerely regret having to postpone any appointments and apologize to the patients involved," said the SDHB CEO. Chris Fleming said:

"Staff will work to relocate patients as quickly as possible, but it will take time."

Southern, like all DHBs, worked with the NZNO within an emergency planning team to ensure that essential services are available during the strike.

An industrial action scheduled for last Thursday by about 30,000 NZNO members was averted by a last minute review of the DHB's wage offer.

However, the members rejected the motion, which means that tomorrow's strike is maintained.

"The vote was tighter this time … but we have a simple majority rule and the simple majority has been respected. NZNO's Director of Industrial Services, Cee Payne, said:

"We should consider a more in-depth ballot [on strike action] when there was no change in the current stalemate."

Additional Government Funding for NZNO Members Ms. Payne indicated that concerns about pay rates, pay equity and staffing would be needed to avoid strikes

Monday, DHB tried to resume facilitation with the NZNO, an offer that has been postponed.

However, ERA su It then ordered the two parties to begin talks, which began yesterday afternoon and should continue all day if necessary.

Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters said that the government still hoped that reconciliation could be concluded before the strike tomorrow. In addition to a salary increase, the government's offer aimed to resolve staffing issues by adding 500 additional nurses and recognizing the experience of longer-term nurses by adding two additional steps to their workload. salary scale, and in "

The strike of tomorrow would be only the second time that nurses from all over the country left work. The first time 30 years ago.

"This is a sad reflection of the years of underfunding and neglect of the previous government," Peters said.

"This government is committed to working with nurses for their concerns, but we can not fix everything in one round of pay.

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