File photo.
Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf
More than 3500 health workers have voted to ratify a new collective agreement with Health New Zealand after a drawn out 18-month bargaining process.
Mental health nurses and assistants are included in the agreement, which will give them a 2.5 percent pay rise and an $800 lump sum payment each.
The agreement was reached after 18 months of bargaining between the Health New Zealand and the Public Service Association.
Public Service Association national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said it was a step in the right direction for their workers, but more funding was needed to address problems in the health system.
Health New Zealand’s initial offers were far too low and it took strike action to get a fair offer, Fitzsimons said.
More funding was needed to fix deeper problems in the health system, she said.
“All political parties must commit to a properly funded public health system that ensures safe staffing levels, and delivers quality are for all New Zealanders.”
The collective agreement covering 12,000 allied health workers was also ratified last Tuesday.
Voting will soon be held on a third health agreement for policy, advisory, knowledge and specialist workers.
Health NZ welcomed the vote. Robyn Shearer, an executive national director, said the agreement also included a boost to the professional development allowance for Nurse Practitioners, and a commitment to the recruitment of over 550 new positions in this financial year.
“The resolution of these negotiations has included important undertakings to work with the PSA on key issues, such as recruitment, retention, and health and safety.”
Nurses would receive a 2.5 percent salary increase in year one and a 2 percent increase in year two over a term of 24 months. As well as the lump sum payment of $800, there was a $2000 flat rate increase on the top step for Enrolled Nurses, Shearer said in a statement.
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