Five Day Hospital Strike To Start 29 August

Thursday 11 August 2005

Five Day Hospital Strike To Start 29 August

“NUPE delegates decided last night to formally issue a strike notice for a five day strike on behalf of about 600 health workers employed by the Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) for the week 29 August to 2 September,” said Nadine Marshall, Secretary of the National Union of Public Employees (NUPE).

Nadine Marshall said that NUPE members and the CDHB have been informed of the result of the meeting. “Delegates have decided to proceed because the Government did not provide funding for an acceptable offer by 10 August.”

“Members accept the need to give two weeks notice in the health sector so the Board can deal with life preserving services,” said Nadine Marshall. “The two weeks also gives a last opportunity for the Government to accept its responsibility to deal with low pay rates in the sector before disruption occurs.”

“Health workers have spent nine months petitioning Parliament, rallying outside Labour MPs offices, in negotiations trying to get the funding for a 30% catch-up for all health workers, and are yet to receive an offer,” said Nadine Marshall.

“Staff who will be striking include Clerical and Administration staff in health who deal with clinical records and waiting lists, Maintenance, Information Technology, Mortuary Technicians, Allied Health workers such as Occupational Therapists, Social Workers and Dental Therapists, and Mental Health Nurses,” said Nadine Marshall.

“Members of Parliament have been known to fix up their own remuneration issues in seven minutes – NUPE members trust they can attend to health workers’ remuneration in the next two weeks,” said Nadine Marshall.

ENDS

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