Kia ora PHC Member

As you are aware, a series of stop work meetings across the motu are planned for PHC MECA members tomorrow – Wednesday 12 October. Meetings will be held from 12:30-13:30 and 14:30-15:30.

Find the meeting closest to you.

These meetings will update you on our PHC MECA campaign, including where we are at with our bargaining to date. There will also be opportunity for discussion about our next step in pushing through this impasse.

As the employers’ offer has been rejected, and the employers have not been able to offer anything further, members will have opportunity to participate in a ballot for industrial/strike action immediately after the final meetings (closing at 15:30). This online ballot will be for a complete withdrawal of labour across all PHC MECA sites from 10:00 until 14:00 on Thursday 27 October 2022.

NZNO members and our Primary Health Care colleagues employed by Plunket and Healthcare New Zealand/NZ Care have recently voted also to strike from 10:00 until 14:00 on Thursday, 27 October 2022.

This provides us with a unique opportunity to draw public attention to the unequal and disparate terms and conditions we face across Primary Health Care. It will also be an opportunity to put pressure on the funders to ensure members achieve Pay Parity with HNZ/Te Whatu Ora members.

If PHC MECA members also support strike action on 27 October, there will be a visible wave of strikes across the Primary Health Care sector at the same time on the same day. Later this week we will update you on rallies and other visible activities we are planning.

Together, we are stronger! Maranga Mai!

In order to provide employers with 14 clear days’ notice of intended strike action, the strike ballot will only be live from 15:30 – 17:00 tomorrow, Wednesday 12 October. The ballot will be sent to PHC MECA members via text and email at 15:30 tomorrow.

This is a very short window of opportunity. If you have not received the ballot by 15:45, please check your Junk Folder first. If you have not received the ballot, email campaigns@nzno.org.nz to receive a new ballot. The ballot will close at 17:00.

We look forward to seeing you at one of tomorrow’s stop work meetings and to your participation in the strike ballot!

Make sure you and your colleagues are all NZNO members and have updated any changed details. You can update your details by emailing membership@nzno.org.nz or sign up as a new member by visiting https://www.nzno.org.nz/join