Strike lifted; back to the table

20 District Health Boards

Media Release

8 November 2010

Strike lifted; back to the table

APEX, the union representing medical radiation technologists (MRTs), has lifted its notices for full strike action across the country tomorrow and Wednesday. They will return to talks with the DHBs tomorrow afternoon.

“This will be some temporary relief for hospitals and patients,” says Karen Roach, spokesperson for the DHBs negotiations. “The union is, however, continuing with the so-called ‘low-level’ strike action at a number of hospitals.”

DHBs have been negotiating with APEX since August 2009. The union has been undertaking strike action since July this year.

APEX members received a 3 percent increase in March 2009. DHBs have offered during these negotiations:

• a 1 percent pay increase in April 2010 and a further 1 percent increase in October 2010

• a lump sum payment

• improvements to on call rates effective April 2011

• improvements to expenses for employees who travel

• 14 weeks of paid parental leave

• an offer to work together to investigate the introduction of an 80 hour per fortnight roster for employees of Waitemata and Auckland DHBs (currently they work 35 hours per week).

The union wants additional entitlements including:

• Sonographers outside of the Auckland region to be paid Auckland region rates

• a higher lump sum payment

• on-call improvements brought forward to December 2010

• Time in lieu to be granted for employees who undertake CPD activities on a weekend

• A guarantee around the outcome of the 80 hour fortnight roster project.

“These additional items have an ongoing cost implication that is up to 82% higher than is affordable for DHBs. Our priority is to provide the best possible health care to the communities we serve within the constraints that are well known across this sector and the country. We cannot agree to a settlement that is unaffordable, but remain willing to meet to explore settlement options with APEX,” says Karen Roach.

“MRTs have been offered a fair and reasonable pay rise, consistent with the settlement that has been acceptable to 90% of the DHB workforce.

“DHBs have done their best to prioritise the money that is available to settle the collective agreement against the union’s claims. The offer we made is a settlement that is affordable and reflects what is fair across the entire DHB workforce. The union continues to ignore the DHBs’ concerns around affordability and our increasing concerns about the effects of so-called low-level action.”

ENDS

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