DHB suspension decision not taken lightly

DHB suspension decision not taken lightly



The decision by some district health boards to suspend striking employees is not being taken lightly, says DHB spokesperson Karen Roach.

“These employees have been taking industrial action since July. The action has been designed to cause inconvenience to patients and other health workers and this is not sustainable,” says Karen Roach. “It’s disappointing that these employers expect their colleagues to carry them while they do less work, for the same pay.”

APEX, the union representing Medical Radiation Technologists, has said it would lift strike action if DHBs returned to the bargaining table. “In fact, we’ve been at the bargaining table since strike action commenced on 22 July, we’ve made two offers in that time, and the union has not lifted any notices at all,” says Karen Roach.

“We have made a number of offers to the union – starting with one across the scientific/technical workforce represented by APEX and New Zealand Medical Laboratory Workers’ Union that was rejected. We have followed this up with offers to Medical Radiation Technologists (MRTs) on 28 June, 1 July, 28 July and 20 August.

“Each offer has been developed to meet the priorities identified by the union, within the DHBs’ bargaining parameters (i.e. what is affordable).”

DHBs are now suspending some MRTs who have not been performing all their usual functions, despite being at work on full pay. The industrial action has been designed to create maximum disruption for the DHBs and to minimise the impact on the employees’ take home pay. Action taken so far includes:

• withdrawing labour associated with specific services, for example theatre, for specific periods of time
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• applying minimum exam times so that each exam takes longer. This means that hospitals can’t see as many patients as they normally would. Waiting lists for procedures are growing each day.
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• refusing to answer telephones, pagers, or transport patients. This puts pressure on to other health care workers who must, on top of their normal busy jobs, must now fit in the work not being done by the MRTs.
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“DHBs are operating in extremely tight financial circumstances and that’s going to be the case for quite some time, says Karen Roach. “DHBs’ latest offer to the MRTs includes, among other things, pay increases in April and October 2010, improvements to the on call allowance, a lump sum payment, improvements to paid parental leave, and a collective agreement through to July 2011.

“APEX seems to be ignoring the reality of the DHBs’ financial situation, and is seeking a higher financial settlement than others in the sector. This union has a history of taking strike action and DHBs hope that suspension will get the message across that there is no more money in the DHB kitty.

“The union has told us that the latest offer has been sent to its delegates and we are waiting for their response.”

ENDS

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