Unionists Back Junior Doctors

The National Secretary of the NDU and a leader of the Nurses Organisations successful push for pay equity, Laila Harré, says that she believes District Health Boards have orchestrated a campaign to discredit and disempower the junior doctors' union, and that the public health system will be the big loser if the DHBs succeed.

"The orchestrated backlash against the junior doctors' strike should not be allowed to divert us from the key issue here - the Health Boards are offering junior doctors a sub-inflation pay rise and seeking flexibility to extend their working hours.

"The only way they can succeed is by discrediting the doctors' union and breaking down the collective resolve of its members. The price of a DHB victory will be fewer doctors working longer hours for less real money than they are currently getting.

"Health unions have fought hard for national agreements that support, recruit and retain a good workforce here. All health workers should be concerned about the tactics being used to divide the junior doctors from each other and the public that depend on them."

ENDS

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