The senior doctors and hospital dentists strike in Auckland on 21 September 2023. Photo: Rayssa Almeida/ RNZ
A 12-hour strike by senior doctors and hospital dentists around the country on Monday has been called off.
More than 5000 members of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists employed by Te Whatu Ora had planned to strike from midnight until noon over concerns about pay and workload.
However a message was sent to union members on Friday morning informing them the strike notice had been withdrawn after what was described as "positive movement" by the employer.
Plans for another strike, for 24 hours on 24 October, remained in place.
Facilitated bargaining between the union and Te Whatu Ora was continuing on Friday.
Te Whatu Ora sad it was working reinstate as many surgeries and procedures as possible on Monday.
In a statement, the national health authority said there had been two days of facilitated bargaining and this will continue next week.
The agency said it was making no further comment.
Senior hospital doctors and dentists have walked off three times, the latest on 21 September over stalled pay talks.
In the leadup to that strike, Te Whatu Ora said 250 patient procedures and specialist appointments have to be postponed.
Hospital senior doctors and dentists strike in Auckland on 5 September. Photo: RNZ / Delphine Herbert
Earlier the health agency said it had put a fair deal on the table, but the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists argued the increase on offer of $15,000 to $26,000 failed to keep up with inflation.
