DHBs Fail to Engage Genuinely in Bargaining

Unfortunately bargaining between NZRDA and the DHBs did not go well today. Despite NZRDA tabling an alternative proposal the DHB negotiating team declined to engage further, choosing instead to adjourn for further discussion with CEOs.

“There is no genuine negotiation with us going on at the table” says Dr Deborah Powell, National Secretary of NZRDA, “They listened to us and then adjourned ostensibly to discuss forming an offer with the CEOs, we expect cherry picking items that meet their agenda.“

NZRDA proposed a settlement that reaffirmed the employer’s concern doctors not be paid for days off as a result of reducing the 12 stretches to a maximum of 10, whilst retaining the doctor’s penal components from their salary which compensate them for working the unsocial hours.

“Under the safer hours proposal from NZRDA, resident doctors will continue to work all the nights and weekends they always have, simply in shorter blocks of consecutive days. NZRDA has proposed taking the penal component out of our salary as it is currently paid and specifically reapply that to the weekends”, says Dr Powell.

“Taking our penal rates off us, as the DHBs have proposed would result in an average RMO taking a pay cut of at least $20,000 per annum,” says Dr Powell. “This is simply unfair. The DHBs are trying to penalise us for wanting to work safely.”

“This dispute was not about money, it was about health and safety,” says Dr Deborah Powell, National Secretary of NZRDA, “however the DHBs have now made it entirely about pay.”

Meanwhile NZRDA has opened a public petition accessible through the NZRDA website www.saferhours.co.nz/petition/ .

“We have opened the petition to give members of the public the ability to support in a tangible way our campaign for safer working hours for doctors.” says Dr Deborah Powell.

Further information about the campaign and the petition can be found at www.saferhours.co.nz

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