Medical Radiation Technolgists Threaten Strike

Medical Radiation Technolgists Threaten Strike

Medical Radiation Technologists in hospitals mainly in the North Island have issued notice of a four-day strike. The technologists are threatening to stop work between midday on Monday 23 May and midday Friday 27 May in support of their pay claim.

Spokesperson for the DHBs, Hawkes Bay CEO Chris Clarke, says DHBs were surprised by the notice given they thought they’d reached the basis for a settlement.

He says it was during mediation last week that the MRT union – APEX – identified an amount to settle the agreement and DHBs agreed to that amount.

Mr Clarke says reaching a settlement should have been straightforward and he’s hopeful some real progress will be made at talks with a mediator next Tuesday.

Medical Radiation Technologists operate services such as x-rays, scans, mammography and ultra sound.

If the action goes ahead, services will be significantly affected across nine District Health Boards – Northland, Waitemata, Auckland, Waikato, Hawkes Bay, Whanganui, Mid Central (Palmerston North), Capital & Coast (Wellington) and Nelson-Marlborough.

DHBs have contingency plans and each is assessing how the threatened strike will affect services in their areas.

Patient safety is our main consideration, says Mr Clarke.

He says DHBs will do all they reasonably can to find a solution that will avoid the strike and reach a sensible document that meets everybody’s needs.

Note: Radiation Technologists at Counties Manakau District Health Board are covered by a different collective employment agreement being negotiated by a separate union.