Above: 3 September strike, New Lynn

PHC MECA Update 23 October 2020

Conclusive vote to support strike action!

There was strong participation in the ballot and the result is conclusive: 86 percent voted in favour of the balloted strike action for two 24 hour strikes two weeks apart.

We know you will again have not taken this decision lightly but it is a very clear indication of your frustration and disappointment at your continued undervaluing. The lack of progress is unacceptable!

We will be giving formal notice today of the first 24 hour strike on Monday 9 November. When we give the formal notice of the strike we also need to advise the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. They will contact the parties on a potential return to mediation in an attempt to resolve the matter before any strike would proceed.

We will continue to urge the DHBs, Ministry of Health and the employers to conclude their discussions and avoid any further need for action. If a new proposed collective agreement is reached then we are able to withdraw the strike notice to enable ratification by NZNO members.

Open Letter to the Prime Minister

Your letters were so powerful, passionate and on point. Below is a brief overview of some of the points that were shared.

We acknowledge members' disappointment at having their letters fobbed off from the Prime Minister to the Minister of Health and then to the Ministry of Health where finally received a response was finally received from Anna Clark, Deputy Director-General Health Workforce MOH.

On Wednesday of this week NZNO also received a response from Minister of Health Chris Hipkins. The Prime Minister had forwarded our letter to him to respond.

There are concerning aspects in Clark's and Hipkins' letters.

There is no recognition of the discussions that we were advised were being held by the DHBs, the Ministry of Health and the employers. Instead both letters refer to the Ministry agreeing to begin working with the primary care and other private health sector employers to develop an overarching framework and plan for nurses across the health sector.

Further, it is stated that responsibility for settling this agreement rests with the private sector employers and NZNO as the union, and that it is not for the Ministry or Minister of Health to comment or intervene in this bargaining.

The Minister finally encourages us "to continue to use the services of the Employment Relations Authority to assist in progressing a settlement”. Keeping in mind we have already been to mediation with no progress due to no additional funding.

These responses conflict with the key messages released after the 24 September meeting namely:

The Ministry of Health, DHB representatives, the NZMA and Green Cross Health met on 24 September 2020 to gain a common understanding of progress in the Primary Care MECA bargaining. It was a useful and productive meeting during which all meeting attendees gained a better appreciation of the issues, and recognised and agreed on the need for a consistent, sustainable approach to pay parity across the health system. Primary care nurses are seen as a priority workforce for progressing pay parity. Meeting attendees have agreed to work together on this issue, with an initial focus on the Primary Care MECA.

We have been advised this week that further information that was sought by the DHBs and Ministry from the employers is just being finalised, thus indicating there is still discussion continuing in line with the above commitment.

So do the Minister and Deputy Director-General not know of the progress within their own portfolios? We will certainly raise these questions as it is certainly not the time for any confusion….

We will update you as things develop.

We appreciate we are again in extraordinary times but take heart knowing we are in this together. Take care and keep safe.

Ngā mihi,

Chris Wilson

Quotes from your letters: 

"As you are aware Prime Minister, these discussions have been going on for quite some time, and as if it hasn't been demoralizing enough, many of us have front lined during covid, swabbing, assessing, leaving our whānau for the greater good each day knowing we may bring it home to them or not return at all." 

"We were recently recruiting for a nurse in our urgent care service and only received one applicant because we are offering a pay rate of 10.6% less than the DHB."

"I have worked for 16 years in PHC having previously worked as a neonatal intensivist for 14 years and I can assure you I work as hard in PHC."

"My PHC work includes immunisations, cervical smears, long term conditions education include asthma, diabetes, COPD, anxiety and depression. My urgent care work includes injury management involving a wide range of strapping, suturing and casting techniques as well as follow-up and recovery planning."

"I do everything to prevent patients having to be referred or present to secondary and tertiary services which cost more."

"We are leaving this profession for lack of recognition in what we do …. How will practice nursing survive if the pay isn’t there to recruit and retain?"

"At least acknowledge our struggles and show some respect and dignity to all the highly trained nurses who make a huge difference in the health of the community."

"The fact we are paid 10.6% less demeans us as a nurses and makes us feel inadequate when our roles are crucial in reducing the patient flow and affect on DHB workers by keeping patients out of the tertiary sector."

"$7,600 base pay less per year than my DHB colleagues means I don’t have the same opportunities to support my whānau yet I am equally qualified and skilled."