Kia ora koutou katoa,

What a change of circumstances since our last Update! We acknowledge your valuable contribution as essential front-line health workers and hope you have all you need to keep safe – know that we are working continuously on that front.

Ratification

As reported in your last update we are only able to ballot members in workplaces where the employer has said, “Yes.”

There are still some 30 employers who have not participated in their ratification process affecting some 260 NZNO members.

There are now 6 employers who have said “No” affecting some 80 NZNO members. NZNO is able to have “serious negotiations” with these employers in an endeavour to overcome their issues prior to our balloting process. We will be directly contacting these members by Wednesday 15 April about this process.

Individual employer communication is proving difficult during lockdown and at this stage we believe there remains too many workplaces and some 400 members that would need to be discounted from our member ballot.

In an effort to further reduce these numbers your NZNO negotiation team therefore proposes that the ballot now commences on Friday 24 April.

Proposals to Change Hours / Consider Redundancies

Within the first weeks of the lockdown we have had members being approached about reduction of hours.

It is very important to note that there are meaningful and agreed contractual provisions in the current PHC MECA and these cannot be overruled in a pandemic.

Current self-isolation provisions may mean our required “meeting(s)” will differently, such as on Zoom or over the phone. But it still needs to take place along with the other specified parts of the process as outlined below in Subclause 27.2.6.

Where to from here?

• There is a clear obligation for the employer to meet with relevant employees and the NZNO organiser/delegate
• From that point a ‘plan’ is developed
• A reasonable, specified time-frame is given for feedback
• Then a final decision is made.

NZNO would see failure to follow the outlined process as an unjustified disadvantage for affected members.

Please contact NZNO on 0800 28 38 48 as soon as possible if there are any approaches made to yourself or your team in this regard or if there are any other COVID-19 related issues.

Subclause 27.2.6

The process will generally include, but not necessarily be confined to the following:

a)       Management will meet with employees likely to be affected and the NZNO organiser/delegate to outline the possibility of change, looking at the current situation and the future, given the factors that could give rise for the change.

b)       Management will develop a plan or proposal specifying possible implications in relation to staffing changes.

c)        The plan or proposal will be circulated to employees likely to be affected and the NZNO organiser/delegate, with a request for feedback within a reasonable and specified time-frame. Alternative proposals or options should demonstrate that the objectives could be met. Management will meet with employees and the NZNO organiser/delegate for clarification of issues arising from the plan or proposal.

d)       Once feedback has been considered, management will make the final decision, and work with the NZNO organiser/delegate to finalise the implementation plan.

e)       It is agreed that consideration will be given and maintained in the employer’s basic rights and obligations to operate the business in an efficient, business-like, safe and professional manner.

General

As earlier advised there will be an online ballot so it is very important that we have up-to-date email addresses. If you believe NZNO may not have this correct information please urgently contact our Member Support Centre on 0800 28 38 48.

It would also help a lot if you checked with your colleagues whether they have received this email. If not, and they are an NZNO member, they need to contact NZNO urgently with their details including a mobile number if they do not have an email address.

Full details of the employers' offer for a proposed collective agreement will again be detailed along with your ballot form on Friday 24 April.

General Practice Sustainability Package

Finally, you may have heard last week that the Director General of Health announced work on a sustainability package for General Practice, acknowledging the financial difficulties occurring with a downturn in patients presenting and cash flow issues. Our understanding is that there is an announcement on this expected in the very near future.

We appreciate that these are difficult and uncertain times.

Take care and keep safe.
 
Chris Wilson and Mike Yeats
on behalf of your PHC MECA Negotiation Team