A Happy Christmas For Nurses and Midwives
Nurses and Midwives could have one of the largest ever pay settlements in public sector history as a Christmas present.
Nurses and Midwives around the country will be asked to ratify a settlement that will give most Nurses and Midwives pay
rises of between 20% and 30%.
Spokesman for the DHBs Jim Green says the deal has been agreed with the New Zealand Nurses’ Organisation (NZNO) and will
now go to NZNO members for ratification.
“The deal was reached in negotiations that began in July and I’m pleased there has been agreement so that NZNO will take
the settlement package back to Nurses and Midwives with a recommendation to accept.
“The $380 million deal exceeds current DHB funding but has significant advantages for the health sector which is why the
Government came to the party with additional funding. We can now take a coordinated sector approach to key healthcare
issues such as recruitment and retention, health and safety and workforce planning.
“This is a significant package that meets the goals of DHBs and the union by targeting those with the greatest skills
and experience and provides for consistent terms and conditions around the country. It’s the DHBs’ response to the
nurses’ claim for fair pay and gives Nurses and Midwives a large and well-deserved pay jolt in a very short space of
time,” says Mr Green.
“This is good news at this time of the year for Nurses, Midwives and the community, and the result owes much to the
dedication of the union and DHB teams in pushing through for such a good result for all.”