NZNO advocate Danielle Davies said the proposed deal was reached after a day of negotiations. Key features of the proposed deal include:
- progression through wage steps to be based on automatic annual progression;
- all rates in the collective agreement (CA) to be at $22.10 or above (ie, the living wage rate);
- a new step 6 in central sterile services department (CSSD), open to all non-senior designated members within 12 months;
- a two per cent increase on all CSSD steps from April 1, 2021;
- a two per cent pay increase on all anaesthetic technician (AT) steps from April 1, 2021;
- a 50 per cent increase in the on-call allowance; and
- a 12-month term.
Registered nurses were not included in the two per cent pay increase, as their rates are well above the current NZNO/district health board MECA rates.
There are 230 members at the hospital. St George’s has 12 operating theatres and provides a range of surgical services, including a six-bed intensive care unit. It also provides cancer, cardiac, eye care and maternity services, including three birthing suites. It has undergone major redevelopment since the 2011 Canterbury earthquake.