Patience of DHB Admin workers around New Zealand has run out

Nationwide Stop Work meetings held for DHB Administration workers across all 20 District Health Boards today have delivered a loud and clear message that their patience with repeatedly delayed timelines for bargaining settlements for improved pay and conditions has worn out.

"The high turn-out of PSA members for today’s Stop Work meetings demonstrated an unprecedented groundswell of support for industrial action at DHBs in the Northern and Lower North Island regions where progress on bargaining for new MECAs (Multi-Employer Collective Agreements) has been in a total limbo," says Kerry Davies, PSA national Secretary.

"This was the first time ever that national Stop Work meetings have been called to allow PSA members in these vital roles at hospitals to send a message about how far they have been left behind and just how frustrated and angry they are".

PSA’s DHB national organiser Ashok Shankar said initial resolutions had been overwhelmingly passed by PSA members at DHBs in the Northern and Lower North Island regions for the PSA to proceed with planning for strike action - dependent on whether significant progress is made at bargaining meetings being held this month on 19-20 February (Northern region) and 26-27 February (Lower North Island region).

Ashok Shankar: "The meeting rooms we booked for today’s Stop Work meetings were filled to overflowing and many members were in favour of moving straight to strike action. That is a direct reflection of the sense of urgency from our members for DHBs to stop repeated delays around bringing a pay offer to the bargaining table and, at the same time, to accelerate progress on their equal pay claim.

"For PSA members at DHBs in the Midlands and South Island regions today’s Stop Work meeting endorsed strategies for bargaining on the expiring MECAs in their regions. Those members also gave a strong show of support for other DHB Administration workers who are now considering strike action".

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