Nurses to Attend Mediation Report Back Meetings

August 28, 2003

Canterbury Nurses to Attend Mediation Report Back Meetings

Mediation between the New Zealand Nurses Organisation and Canterbury DHB over the Collective Agreement covering 2,500 nurses and midwives employed by the DHB has adjourned and NZNO members will now attend reportback meetings, said Nurses Organisation advocate Chris Wilson today.

"Although significant progress has been made in the three days of mediation, a proposed settlement has not been reached at this point,” said Chris Wilson.

“Yet to be resolved are the timing of the expiry date of the collective agreement and the implementation of the salary rates, and some issues around salary progression.”

Chris Wilson said NZNO representatives would discuss the respective positions of the union and the employer at this stage with NZNO members at a full round of stopwork meetings commencing tomorrow.

The meetings will continue until 3 September.

“The agenda for these meetings will also include looking at any further potential options for settlement of the collective agreement and alternatively in the event that a settlement is not possible,” said Chris Wilson.

The CDHB and NZNO negotiating teams have agreed to meet with the Employment Relations Service mediator, Walter Grills, again next week, following the conclusion of the meetings.

ENDS

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