By Brendon McMahon, Local Democracy Reporter
About 20 West Coast District Health Board workers mounted a "union solidarity placard picnic" outside Grey Base Hospital during their lunch break today.
The lunchtime picket outside the entrance to West Coast DHB's Greymouth Te Nikau Hospital. Photo: LDR / Brendon McMahon
The Allied Health union members, who represent more than 70 health professions providing vital services within the health system, have been trying to negotiate a new pay deal under their collective agreement with the DHBs for over a year.
PSA Greymouth organiser Paul Kearns said today's action was timed to enable as many workers as possible to attend during their lunch break to highlight their claim for a new deal from the DHBs for over a year.
The sector are currently in 'facilitation' with the DHBs following an injunction stopping planned strike action.
The allied sector represent those providing vital health services back from the frontline and includes the likes of lab technicians, surgical cleaners, physiotherapists, occupational therapists to drug and alcohol counsellors.
Some under the current award will be earning less than the new living wage, due from next month.
"These people are tired and need to be heard because they tend to be overlooked. Nurses and doctors tend to ring the quotas for the health sector but it's the people behind the scenes who also do really valuable work," Kearns said.
PSA national allied organiser Will Matthews said the unresolved claim covers more than 10,000 professionals with today's picket in Greymouth one of many.
"We were supposed to be striking today but obviously we were prevented to that with the DHB [court] injunctions.
"The Allied Health sector's representatives continue to be in court-ordered 'facilitation' with the DHBs, mediated by a court-appointed representative from the Employment Relations authority."
The final two days of facilitation will be held on Monday and Tuesday.
"If we don't get a fair pay offer from the DHBs, we will be going back to our workers," Matthews said.
Local Democracy Reporting is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air
