PSA lodges national pay claim for health workers

The Public Service Association (PSA) has lodged a national pay claim which should mean all health workers end up with fair pay.

The PSA is the biggest union for mental and public heath nurses, allied health professionals (including social workers, dental therapists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, and pharmacists), technical and support staff and clerical and administrative workers.

PSA National Secretary Richard Wagstaff said the union is seeking to standardise wages within the various occupational groups across the country and then to apply a pay jolt similar to the increase offered to New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) members.

“All health workers are underpaid and deserve an urgent response to their salary needs. We have been working with District Health Boards New Zealand (DHBNZ) to ensure all health workers receive a fair pay offer.

“Our pay claim is in two parts: we are seeking to standardise salaries for occupational groupings across the country. At present there is a considerable difference between the salaries health workers can earn for same job depending on which DHB they are employed by; in addition, we are also seeking a pay jolt similar to that achieved in the NZNO agreement to recognise pay parity issues for workers in the health sector. This should provide increases of between 12 and 20 per cent on top of standardised rates.

“We have lodged a national claim with DHBNZ and we will be seeking to deliver these increases through regional multi-employer collective agreements. DHBNZ is currently costing the PSA claim.

“The NZNO settlement was only achieved because district health boards received additional funding from the government so they could make an acceptable offer. The government will have to provide further additional funding to enable the PSA to settle a fair pay agreement for all other health workers.

“We congratulate the New Zealand Nurses Organisation for ratifying their agreement and we look forward to achieving fair pay for all health workers,” Richard Wagstaff said.

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