DHBs Look Forward To Positive Engagement With RMOS

DHBs Look Forward To Positive Engagement With RMOS

District Health Boards New Zealand media release 9 December 2010

DHBs are pleased that resident medical officers (RMOs) represented by the Resident Doctors Association (RDA) have agreed to work with DHBs on common interests.

“We are pleased that RMOs have decided to engage constructively with DHBs,” says Karen Roach, DHB spokesperson for the negotiations. “The union has accepted the DHBs’ offer of 2% on base pay rates to apply from 1 October 2010 and has agreed to explore with us an interest-based approach to negotiations. This approach should enable us to consider some creative solutions to the issues facing this workforce.”

An interest-based approach to bargaining enables RMOs to explore what lies beyond their public positions and to look at the possibilities for change that would meet everyone’s needs.

“DHBs believe its time to change the way we interact with this workforce both for the benefit of RMOs and for the best delivery of health services,” says Karen Roach. “RMOs are a workforce in training. DHBs, as employers, must balance their service and training needs with the needs of patients and senior staff.

“We need greater flexibility to set rosters that provide appropriate training opportunities, meet service needs, and accommodate RMO preferences. A number of reviews and reports last year confirmed that the status quo is not an option for the future.

“We trust the RMOs will use this opportunity to engage constructively with their senior colleagues and their employers on the issues facing them. We value our RMOs and want to protect and, where possible, improve hours of work, and pay them fairly.

“We welcome this move from the RDA and look forward to working with them on creative solutions.”

ENDS

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