The strikes so far have been in Auckland, South Canterbury, Counties Manukau, Whanganui, Wairarapa, Bay of Plenty, Lakes region and the Hutt Valley.
Hutt Valley nurse Nathan Clark said NZNO members have been fighting and advocating for years for safety for their patients.
“As health professionals we know that nurses at bedsides and safe staffing provides for a better outcome, better patient care and patient experiences when receiving health care services.
“The approach Health NZ has taken to put a halt to increase staffing levels, using a tool they agreed upon, shows they really don’t put patient safety and care at the forefront of what they do,” Clark said.
‘To stop the recruitment of healthcare workers because they only see a cost and not an asset or value in skilled people, is an absolute insult.’
Next week, rolling strikes are planned for Midcentral, Northland, Waitematā, Waikato, Tairawhiti, Taranaki, Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley, Nelson-Marlborough, Hawke’s Bay, West Coast and Canterbury.
Clark said while the plight of Te Whatu Ora nurses was focused on patient safety the recent offer by their employer of one per cent, was a further “insult.”
“The offer of one per cent is further insult to an already overburdened workforce that is despite recent hiring is still struggling to recruit and retain its workforce.
“The offer won’t come into effect until April 2025 – six months after our current contract has expired so its 0.5 per cent on existing base rates and when factoring in inflation is an effective pay cut of three per cent.
“We need an offer that is going to retain our workforce, more so as an insult when only half of the new graduate workforce has been employed.”
The rolling strikes follow last week’s hugely successful national strike.
They continue this week in midcentral district, Northland, Waitematā, Waikato, Taranaki, Tairāwhiti, Hawke’s Bay, Wellington, Nelson-Marlborough, Canterbury and the West Coast. All details can be found here.