15% too much to swallow in one go

15% too much to swallow in one go.

Radiographers or Medical Radiation Technologists are striking for the same terms and conditions as their counterparts in other parts of the country.

District Health Boards acknowledge the claim, but 15% at a time when inflation is around 3% is unrealistic.

It has been nearly 20 years since we had one pay agreement covering this group and we accept that differences have developed – what we can’t do is address them in one go.

DHBs structured a new pay offer last week that would get more than 80% of MRTs to the rates they want over two and a half years. In simple terms:

- An automatic pay scale of $42,400 - $57,000 (what the union is claiming)

- Merit steps for those with extra training and qualifications, and higher levels of performance

- A top rate of $82,000

Another thing we need to remember is that most MRTs earn an extra 20% in penal rates and overtime and that won’t change under our offer.

Getting national consistency involves compromise – we moved our position considerably so most MRTs could get the rates they want over two and a half years.

We cannot afford to do more or do it faster without compromising patient services or the pay of other health workers.

The union is right when it says this is an issue of fairness and equity and it holds true for all 60,000 health workers, not just the 260 involved in this dispute.

We believe we need to align the rates not just of MRTS, but other groups with similar levels of qualification and responsibility – people like Nurses and Allied Health Workers.

Radiographers are a critical part of the wider health team – but they are not the only ones. We have to be fair to them all.

Dr Dwayne Crombie
CEO of Waitemata DHB
Spokesperson for DHBs

ENDS

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