DHBs make ‘world leading’ offer to settle doctors’ dispute

Media Release

7 November 2016

DHBs make ‘world leading’ offer to settle doctors’ dispute

DHBs today formally made an offer to the RDA, the union representing registered medical officers (RMOs). The DHBs expected their offer to settle the dispute with the union because it addresses all the health and safety issues raised by the union.

Surprisingly, in mediation, the offer has been rejected by the union. DHBs believe that in rejecting the offer the union is planning to take further strike action.

Julie Patterson, lead CEO for the 20 DHBs’ Workforce and Employment Relations Programme and CEO of Whanganui DHB, says the DHB offer would provide world leading hours, and working conditions for junior doctors.

“Today’s offer gives the union what they have been publicly asking for, a contractual guarantee that no RMO would work more than four nights or 10 days in a row. The offer would see all the rosters, unacceptable to the union, fixed. ”

As previously, the offer includes a 5% pay rise over three years and the DHBs have added a generous payment of a further $200 for RMOs when doing a weekend shift.

“This is the fourth offer the DHBs have made to the union since March. Sadly, whilst the union has now, twice, balloted the RMOs for strike action it is yet to let its members vote on the DHBs’ offer. We are concerned that many of the RMOs are unaware of the benefits they would receive from the offer.”

“Of further concern to DHBs is the impact that further reducing of hours will have on RMOs’ training”, said Mrs Patterson. “Yes, we need an employment agreement suitable for a modern health care environment, but we also need to ensure all RMOs continue to receive world class training experience”.

“DHBs would rather be working constructively with all our union partners on improving training opportunities and the management of fatigue across our workforce rather than planning to manage another strike. No one, least of all our communities, benefited from the RMOs’ strike two weeks ago and it is certain no one will benefit from any further action the union may propose.”

“Having said that DHBs are perplexed as to what the union could now strike about given the DHBs’ commitments in this offer. The only outstanding issue between us is that the DHBs will not pay for days off the RMOs would enjoy as part of the revised rosters.”

“This latest offer would further increase the investment DHBs make in RMOs. The offer would increase our existing $500m per annum investment in RMOs by another $88.4m over the term of the agreement.

“More importantly, the DHBs’ offer comprehensively addresses the union’s health and safety claims.”

Attached: Factsheet #2 – RMO Hours of Work
RMO_Factsheet_2_Hours_of_Work.pdf

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