The past three weeks have seen thousands of Te Whatu Ora workers, who are members of NZNO, take part in a nationwide strike as well as rolling strikes at various hospitals throughout the country.
Today the last rolling strikes for the year were held in West Coast, Canterbury and Hawke’s Bay where the torrential rain failed to hold back nurses from hitting the picket line.
Maria Tutahi, a negotiator for the NZNO bargaining team, said members showed huge amounts of resilience, strength and unity during the strikes.
“Our voice was one and we will need to keep that kotahitanga or unity leading into 2025. There have been two mediations with Te Whatu Ora over the past three weeks, but no movement on the collective agreement yet.
“So we all need to come back next year with some more collective kaha or spirit,” said Tutahi (Ngāi Tūhoe) who spoke of a proverb the late King Tāwhiao used in reference to strength in unity.
‘Ki te kotahi te kākaho ka whati ki te kāpuia e kore e whati – If there is but one reed it will break, but if it is bunched together it will not.’
NZNO president Anne Daniels described the Wellington picket lines as “energetic.”
“Every member I spoke to knew what the issues were and why we were striking.”
The bargaining team’s next date with Te Whatu Ora negotiators will be January 20 in Wellington, where two days have been set aside for that meeting.
ED nurse Ryan O’Donnell reiterated in his picket line speech to his colleagues at Wellington Hospital yesterday, that while there were many claims, the most important was achieving more safety for patients.
“We’re not in this for the money! And everyone on this picket line actually wants to be with their patients but when their safety is being compromised, we have to get out here and get noisy, stand up for them.
“And we will keep standing up together, until we get the change that’s needed.”
