The New PHC MECA is signed!

Following the member vote which ratified the PHC MECA, we’ve now completed the final step in this round of bargaining which is for NZNO and the employers to formally sign the document. This means that the new PHC MECA is now in force and employers can start the process of paying new rates effective 26 March and calculating lump sum payments.

A final thank you to the delegates who were the bargaining team. These six NZNO members had the critical task of representing more than 3000 NZNO members at the negotiation table. A fantastic team effort, so a huge thank you.

Your bargaining team: Ayla Evans, Johanna Reid, Tracey Morgan, Denise Moore, Annie Hofmeester and Nerissa Cameron

What’s next?

Pay Equity

As you know we have lodged a Pay Equity claim for primary practices and urgent care: https://maranga-mai.nzno.org.nz/primary_practice_and_urgent_care_pay_equity

This claim covers administration and nursing staff employed at more than 800 employers. The administration required to follow up and receive a response from every employer has been immense, however, we are now at the stage where we are hoping to meet with the employer advocates to check and finalise the employers covered, sign a process agreement and decide how we work through the information gathering stage. Our hope for the information gathering stage is for a thorough but efficient sample of roles to be interviewed to determine the skills and knowledge required for each role. This allows us to score roles, compare them and determine the deficit in pay and conditions. We intend to use the Te Whatu Ora roles already measured against the pay equity tool as comparators. We will provide members with regular updates.

Pay parity campaign

Simultaneously, we will run a joint lobbying and media campaign to close the pay gap between primary health care and Te Whatu Ora by increasing funding for pay. This is a unique opportunity for us to work with the employers on an issue of common concern, using the strength and access opportunities from both sides of the fence to promote interests of both union members and employers. We have already met with the employers to discuss possible approaches. The ultimate goal is to present the new Minister of Health with solutions which will close the primary health pay gap.

If you follow the NZNO Facebook and Instagram pages you will notice increased posts to support the ongoing primary health care pay parity campaign. We’re continually calling on the Government to help close the pay gap between PHC and Te Whatu Ora.

Please follow, like and share the posts so that these can have a wide reach:

NZNO Facebook page
NZNO Instagram page

Ngā mihi,

Andy Hipkiss, Industrial Advisor PHC
NZNO Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa