MEDIA STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE,
FRIDAY 6 JUNE 2003
“South Canterbury Senior Doctors Vote For National Collective Agreement Negotiations”
“Senior doctors employed by the South Canterbury District Health Board have overwhelmingly voted to participate in
national collective agreement negotiations with district health boards that are currently underway,” said Mr Ian Powell,
Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, today.
“The overwhelming nature of the vote was no doubt significantly influenced by the recent bitter industrial dispute with
the DHB and the poor conditions of employment for senior doctors in South Canterbury compared with most other district
health boards.”
“The result could not have been much stronger with 100% voting in favour of participating in the national negotiations.
About 78% of senior doctors participated in the secret postal ballot,” concluded Mr Powell.
Ian Powell
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Note: National negotiations commenced in late April and will resume on 11-12 June. To date senior doctors in 17 out of
the 21 district health boards have voted with majorities of between 75-100% to participate in the national negotiations
with a further four ballots yet to be held. The timing of ballots is determined by the expiry dates of existing single
DHB collective agreements.