NZNO mahi

Private hospitals: Offer at St George’s

By Kai Tiaki editors

April 1, 2021

A proposed settlement has been reached between NZNO and St George’s Hospital in Christchurch, with ratification meetings underway this month.

The St George’s Hospital negotiating team from left: Caryl Reid (RN), Maike von Minding (RN), Sharyn Robertson (RN), Julia Viljoen (AT), Sam Chrisstoffels (RN), and Daryl Evans (CSSD).
The St George’s Hospital negotiating team from left: Caryl Reid (RN), Maike von Minding (RN), Sharyn Robertson (RN), Julia Viljoen (AT), Sam Chrisstoffels (RN), and Daryl Evans (CSSD).

NZNO advocate Danielle Davies said the proposed deal was reached after a day of negotiations. Key features of the proposed deal include:

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  • 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.

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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.