Kia ora koutou We wanted to update you on the MECA negotiations following the latest two days of talks. Days 3 and 4 took place during the Level 3 lockdown in Auckland, so eleven members of our team took part by Zoom. Some good progress was made across the two days. Our aim was to have the DHBs table their claims, get an initial response to all our claims, arrange further meeting dates, and get agreement on anything possible. This was achieved. We have an extra three days of talks in the diary and will be meeting every three weeks through April and into May. The DHBs have tabled two claims. One is a proposed clause around Public Health and Civil Defence emergencies and the other is about leave for professional meetings. Both are under consideration, but neither are acceptable to ASMS as they stand. Almost all of our claims relate to SMO wellbeing and are grouped according to Sir Mason Durie’s health model Te Whare Tapa Whā. Taha Tinana (physical wellbeing) This set of claims looks at hours of work in the evenings and at night (both on-call and shift work). It includes improvements to pay for unsociable hours, minimum shift staffing, better vaccination rights, improved facilities (including overnight refreshments etc), and a package of shift-related clauses (overruns, shift work agreements, shift allowances, etc.). Taha Hinengaro (mental and emotional wellbeing) These claims focus on safe staffing, improvements to long service leave, supervision and psychological support, recruitment and retention, better access to leave without pay, improved CME, improved access to onerous duties leave, better support for research, and locked in non-clinical time. Taha Wairua (spiritual) These claims relate to safe clinical practice and the prevention of moral injury. Claims include safe workplaces, provision of restorative processes as a mechanism to resolve complaints, confidential occupational health services, time for professional duties beyond the DHB, and minimum standards for patient centred care. Taha Whānau (Family) These claims focus on work life balance. We are seeking flexible and predictable working hours, a rural allowance, improvements for SMOs with family responsibilities, better breast-feeding facilities, support for those who suffer domestic violence, extra leave for those missing out on family time due to unsociable hours, and assistance with retirement — including succession planning. Separate from these areas, we hope to have Te Tiriti, and equal pay undertakings reflected in the MECA. We are also seeking a small salary increase. Our claims are well thought through and follow extensive feedback from members, branch officers, and National Executive. It is early days in terms of the DHBs' response and predictably they have rejected some of our claims on the grounds of cost. The fact is that providing safe, sustainable work, requires an increase to resources — both human and physical. Given we have only had four days we are satisfied with progress so far including some ‘in principle’ agreements and partial agreements to some claims. Items agreed in principle or in part include:
We see this as a good start and will be back for another two days of talks next week. As always thanks to our team – your representatives at the negotiating table – for giving up their time to be involved. Lloyd Woods
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