Category: Unions

Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation

Headline: Members to get ballot for industrial action

 

Media Release

EMBARGO 9.30am                                                                            20 April 2018

Members now vote whether or not to strike

NZNO DHB members, who are party to the DHB Nurses and Midwifery MECA, receive their strike ballot paper by post and email from Monday 23 April to vote on proposed strike action. The action will occur if the MECA impasse is not resolved through the Independent Panel Process.

Industrial Services Manager Cee Payne says the NZNO National Delegates Committee this week recommended NZNO proceed with a secret strike ballot of all members covered by the DHB Nurses and Midwifery MECA for strike action.

“We announced this decision to members this morning with the information that the possible strike action will consist of two strikes for 24 hours each commencing at 7.00am. The committee have proposed a week in between the two strikes,” Cee Payne said.

“Members can vote online or by post. The ballot is open for 30 days in accordance with the NZNO constitution and closes no later than 5pm on Friday 25 May 2018. The postal ballot will need to be returned by Tuesday 22 May 2018.

“The commitment to secure safe patient care and a salary structure that incentivises nurses and midwives to remain in the profession has led the committee to this important decision. Strike action is a last resort if a settlement acceptable to our members cannot be achieved” said Cee Payne.

“NZNO must give 14 days’ notice to the DHBs should a vote to strike be the majority decision from all those that submit their ballot. This means the dates of a possible strike are early July.

NZNO chief executive Memo Musa explains that as soon as notice of strike action is given to the DHBs they must develop a contingency plan and take all reasonable and practicable steps to ensure continued provision of essential or life preserving service if strike action occurs.

“The statutory Code of Good Faith for the public health sector requires employers to provide for patient safety by ensuring that life preserving services are available to prevent a serious threat to life or permanent disability during any strike action,” Memo Musa said.

ENDS.

Media Enquiries to: Media Adviser, Karen Coltman: 027 431 2617.

Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation

Headline: MECA Panel members confirmed

All District Health Boards

  

 

 

Media Release                                                         13 April 2018

 

 

Announcement of independent DHB MECA panel members

Following yesterday’s announcement that an independent panel is being engaged to assist in resolving the impasse in the DHB NZNO Multi Employer Collective Agreement bargaining, both parties can now confirm the appointments to the Independent Panel.

The panel is comprised of three independent members: An independent chair appointed by the government, one member proposed by the DHBs and one member proposed by NZNO. 

Both parties welcome the appointment of the chair, Professor Margaret Wilson.

“Professor Margaret Wilson represents balance for the parties as we negotiate terms and conditions for 27,000 members of the health workforce,” says Memo Musa, Chief Executive of NZNO and Dr Ashley Bloomfield, Chair of the DHBs’ Employment Relations Strategy Group.

 

The panel member nominated by the DHBs is Julie Patterson who has a strong background in DHB leadership. The panel member nominated by NZNO is Geoff Annals, a former NZNO chief executive.   

The panel will meet next week. After its first meeting and during the next four weeks the Panel will receive submissions from each party on various matters requiring further negotiation in order to reach an agreement on an updated offer that NZNO can present to its members.

The independent panel process involves:

• Both NZNO and the DHBs (the Parties) making individual submissions to the Panel. The submissions will be written and oral – to support the respective claims, offers and settlements put forward in the bargaining process and other issues raised.
• The panel will then deliberate and come back to the Parties with draft recommendations.
• The parties can then submit further submissions to the Panel.
• The final recommendations from the panel will be provided to each party and the Government by mid-May.
• The DHBs will then make an updated offer to NZNO.

 

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACTS

DHB Contact

Mick Prior, General Manager – Strategic Workforce Services

M: 027 691 4999             mick.prior@tas.health.nz

 

NZNO Contact

Media Adviser Karen Coltman: 027 431 2617.

BACKGROUND – PANEL MEMBERS

Professor Margaret Wilson – Professor Wilson has worked in both private legal practice and has had an extensive career in public service, including as a Director of the Reserve Bank, Speaker of the House and as a Minister of the Crown. She has also served as the founding Dean of Waikato Law School and as New Zealand Law Commissioner.

Geoff Annals – Geoff is currently the chief executive of Accuro Health Insurance. Formerly the chief executive of the NZNO, Geoff was involved in the nursing fair pay resolution in 2004, and in the establishment of the Safe Staffing Healthy Workplace Unit.  Geoff has worked as a registered nurse, and has a good understanding of the wider health system.

Julie Patterson – Julie is the former Chief Executive Officer of Whanganui DHB. She is a qualified nurse (RGON) and has extensive experience in clinical leadership and senior management roles in the health sector.  Julie has taken a lead role in the Safe Staffing Healthy Workplace governance group, and the Health Sector Relationship Agreement, and has worked closely with the NZNO in both of these initiatives.

 

Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation

Headline: Panel agreed to by NZNO

Media release                                                12 April 2018

 

NZNO will proceed with panel to settle the DHB MECA

NZNO has decided to proceed with DHB MECA engagement via the Independent Panel process as proposed by Prime Minister. Once the panel has been confirmed and announced, it will advise of the date of its first meeting and timetable for completing the work.

Industrial Services Manager Cee Payne explains that the panel will seek to address the impasse in the DHB Nurses and Midwives MECA bargaining. The panel will comprise of three independent members: An independent chair appointed by the Government, one member proposed by the DHB employers and one member proposed by NZNO.

“Both NZNO and the DHB employers have to find all three panel members acceptable,” Cee Payne said.

The process involves:

• Both NZNO and the DHB Employers (the Parties) making individual submissions to the Panel. The submissions will be written and oral – to support the respective claims, offers and settlements put forward in the bargaining process and other issues raised.
• The panel will then deliberate and come back to the Parties with draft recommendations.
• The parties can then submit further submissions to the Panel.
• The final recommendations from the panel will be provided to the parties.
• The DHB employer reps are then required to make an updated offer to NZNO.

“The NZNO bargaining team is able to make a recommendation to its members in relation to a new offer. The new offer will be presented to our members to vote on.

“NZNO has used an evidence based process to identify the pay claim and will continue to approach pay issues from this basis, and identify other useful comparators,” she said.

 

Media Enquiries to: NZNO media adviser Karen Coltman 027 431 2617 or karenc@nzno.org.nz

Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation

Headline: First rally Tuesday 10 April

 

 

Media Release                                                                   9 April 2018

 

Large turnout expected for Middlemore rally

The first NZNO Rally for Health is at Middlemore Hospital tomorrow morning at 6.30am. Nurses are reporting that NZNO members from each ward are attending either the morning or afternoon at 2pm and anticipation is building as they are organising to get there.

NZNO Counties-Manukau DHB delegate nurse Caitlin Francey says this is our opportunity to:

“Walk the talk without compromising the care of the public we look after,” she says.

“This rally is a signal to government that we feel undervalued and feel so strongly about this that we are willing to strike if there are no improvements in pay and our working conditions.

 “There are very strong feelings about this. We feel let down by the underinvestment in nursing and the collective agreement offer.

“Change is afoot, there is definitely a mood to speak up now, we feel the MECA offer was unacceptable and adds salt to the wound when we are working under pressure in an underfunded health system,” Caitlin Francey said.

Delegate Caroline Donaldson, says that the current MECA negotiations impasse is generating an opportunity for nurses to speak out about the fact they are feeling undervalued:

“The rejected MECA offer is not enough to cover living cost increases and nurses are being attracted overseas.

“The minimum wage is increasing again and graduate nurses after 3 years of study are unfairly to be on wages nearly the same.

“Nurses are feeling overworked, undervalued and underpaid and I also believe the government needs to spend more on the health care for the people of New Zealand.”

NZNO campaign activities are planned throughout New Zealand to show the government that New Zealanders need it to prioritise rebuilding a quality public health system by investing in nursing, the largest health workforce.

www.healthneedsnursing.co.nz

 

Media enquiries to: NZNO media adviser, Karen Coltman 027 431 2617.