Striking Oamaru Nurses Opt For Mediation

Striking Oamaru Nurses Opt For Mediation

Nurses at Oamaru Hospital met this morning and opted to return to urgent mediation in an effort to resolve their collective agreement negotiations.

New Zealand Nurses Organisation organiser Kay Squires said nurses were heartened by a public statement from the Otago DHB’s chief executive that there was more money available to settle the dispute.

“We are holding out an olive branch and are willing to hold off from filing further strike notice to take a two-week timeframe to focus on mediation with all the parties,” said Kay Squires.

She said until all the parties got round the table together, the buck passing would continue.

Kay Squires said Oamaru nurses’ pay was funded by the Otago DHB, although the hospital was administered by the Waitaki District Health Board.

Nurses and other health workers at Oamaru Hospital began rolling strike action 10 days ago, claiming pay parity with the rest of the South Island.

“Our members at Oamaru have significantly worse pay and conditions than other South Island nurses,” said Kay Squires.

Kay Squires said NZNO members would get back together again after mediation to hear a report back and consider their options.

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