Mediation fails to prevent Laboratory Workers' str

Tuesday 10 April

Mediation fails to prevent Laboratory Workers' strike

An 11th hour attempt to prevent tomorrow's strike by Lab workers has failed.

DHBs were in mediation with the Lab Workers' Union in Auckland today but were unable to find a solution to get the strike called off.

DHB Spokesman, Gordon Davies - CEO of Canterbury DHB, says mediation will never be able to overcome an unrealistic claim when the union is not prepared to make a meaningful shift in its position to find some common ground.

"The union's pay and conditions claims are still unrealistic and unaffordable. Another insurmountable hurdle is their claim to include private laboratories in the agreement. Private Labs have made it clear they do not consider this appropriate and this would prevent a deal with the union - even if all other matters could be resolved.

"We've moved considerably during these negotiations to try and find a compromise. Our offer would give Lab workers 8.5% over three years with a pay scale from $45,000 to $56,000.

"In addition, lab workers will also receive automatic annual increments that average around 2% a year - it would raise the average increase for lab workers to about 5% a year. What we're asking for in return is the same flexibility in rostering that is common with most health workers."

Mr Davies says the strike by lab workers will remove a key diagnostic tool for doctors and all DHBs will be affected to some extent.

"Patient safety is our number one priority - we have agreements with the union to ensure emergency services are maintained, and hospitals are scaling back services accordingly although any industrial action always creates risk.

"This dispute will be settled by meaningful negotiation, and no amount of strike action will make their claim more reasonable. Laboratory workers lost 2% of their pay during the last strike and this action will further erode the eventual settlement even further.

"We have made a very good offer and that remains on the table - let's stop using patients as pawns and find a way through this."

ENDS

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