November 21, 2003
Lower North Island Nurses’ Negotiations Begin
The re-negotiation of the Lower North Island MECA (Multi Employer Collective Agreement) covering 4,000 nurses, midwives
and health assistants in seven DHBs began in Wellington yesterday.
The seven DHBs are Taranaki Health, Hutt Valley DHB, Whanganui DHB, Wairarapa DHB, MidCentral DHB, Hawkes Bay and
Capital and Coast DHB.
Nursing staff are pursuing a claim that focuses on closing the pay gap between their current pay rates and their
colleagues across the country.
New Zealand Nurses Organisation advocate Lyn Olsthoorn said today that an initial exchange of the parties’ positions and
views had occurred.
“We would hope that these negotiations will be completed expediently with a settlement this side of Christmas,” said
Lynn Olsthoorn.
“Given that settlements have already been reached for NZNO members in other DHBs which have progressed the closing of
the pay gap, we have every confidence that these employers will make every effort to ensure our members are not out of
sync with their colleagues.”
ENDS