8 March 2007 – International Working Women’s Day

Nurses Kick Off Fair Play Campaign

Over 20,000 nurses employed in New Zealand’s public hospitals say they want a level playing field at work and are calling for consistency, equity and fairness in their negotiations with District Health Boards (DHBs).

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) has commenced bargaining with representatives of the 21 DHBs for renewal of the single national collective agreement achieved following massive public support for the “Fair Pay” campaign in 2004.

The bargaining teams have agreed to a problem solving approach to negotiations, which commenced following the expiry of the previous agreement on 31 December 2006. The employers and the union will identify common issues and work together to resolve them rather than taking the sometimes more confrontational positional approach.

Focussing this time on “Fair Play,” NZNO is determined that skills, knowledge, responsibility and education are the factors that ascertain pay rates and career development for nurses.

“The issues confronting nurses are those faced by nearly all New Zealanders in 2007,” says NZNO Industrial Advisor, Glenda Alexander.

Incentives to prepare for the future with long-term personal savings can be delivered through subsidised superannuation. Although many state sector employees are currently offered assistance with retirement savings, nurses are left on the bench.

Hurdles placed in front of career development effect men and women differently. There is a range of provisions that can ensure that men and women have equitable opportunities to enter the workforce and progress their careers.

“The Government wants the public sector to be a leader in Pay and Employment Equity,” Glenda Alexander says. “We are offering DHBs the chance to implement healthy, fair work practices that can help to achieve that aspiration.”

NZNO is looking forward to bargaining and to getting outcomes that that reinforce the quality of healthcare all kiwis receive now and in the future.

ENDS

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