International Nursing Body Backs NZNO Pay Claim

22 September, 2004

Highest International Nursing Body Backs NZNO Pay Claim

A gathering in Wellington of representatives from the highest nursing bodies from a wide range of countries has strongly backed the NZNO fair pay claim and offered support and solidarity to the New Zealand Nurses Organisation.

The International Council of Nurses’ (ICN) annual Workforce Forum is currently meeting in Wellington. The countries represented at the forum include Canada, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Sweden, the United Kingdom and United States.

The forum addresses current international workforce issues.

NZNO president Jane O’Malley said the forum had unanimously backed NZNO’s claim in current negotiations with DHBs for a fair pay settlement and safe staffing levels .

“To gain the support of this respected international nursing body is yet another endorsement of our claim and the importance of its success to positive health outcomes for New Zealanders,” she said.

International Council of Nurses’ Statement

We the National Nursing Organisations participating in the International Council of Nurses’ Workforce Forum commend the leadership of the NZNO for their campaign “Nurses and Midwives Fair Pay Because We’re Worth it” and wish them success.

As the recognised national representative bodies for nurses and midwives in our own countries, we recognise and respect the sense of grievance that drives this campaign. Nurses and midwives are the backbone of any health care systems – the health of all people is greatly dependent on access to quality nursing services. Therefore, the historical underpayment of the profession and understaffing in their areas of care forms an obstacle to positive health outcomes and constitutes an insult to nurses and midwives and an injustice to the patients for whom they care.

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation can be assured that this international forum expresses total support and solidarity with them in this fight for justice and fair pay.

ENDS

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