Nurses’ Drive Fair Pay Message To Parliament

Nurses’ Drive Fair Pay Message To Parliament

Nurses, midwives and health assistants will drive their Fair Pay message to Parliament today when they deliver a petition with the signatures of 125,000 New Zealanders.

The petition’s 125,033 signatories call on government to ensure that district health boards get the funding they need to pay nurses fairly and ensure safe staffing levels.

“The strong call from the New Zealand public sends a clear message to government - that DHBs must be funded to meet the Fair Pay and safe staffing claims in this year’s negotiations,” said NZNO Organising Services Manager, Laila Harré.

National negotiations for NZNO’s 20,000 members in the 21 DHBs begin with DHBNZ on 13 July. This will be the first time nurses have negotiated nationally for 13 years.

NZNO members will deliver the petition to parliament today in a purple truck, (NZNO colour) emblazoned with the Fair Pay message at 12.45pm today.

NZNO has invited the leaders of all political parties to accept the petition or to send a representative to accept.

Confirmed to receive the petition are:

Associate Minister of Health, Ruth Dyson National spokesperson on health, Dr Lynda Scott Leader of the Green Party, Jeanette Fitzsimons NZ First spokesperson on health, Barbara Stewart United Future spokesperson on health, Judy Turner Deputy leader of the Progressives, Matt Robson

The petition calls on the House of Representatives to ensure Districts Health Boards are provided with the additional funding needed for DHBs to pay nurses and midwives fairly and to ensure safe staffing levels in our hospitals.

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