Attached is a media statement on behalf of the District Health Boards about the threatened strikes by Medical Radiation
Technologists or Radiographers.
Media Statement
MRT Strike Notice Deliberate & Cynical
Tuesday 5 September, 2006
District Health Boards say the radiographers threatened strikes are deliberately and cynically timed actions to have the
maximum impact on patients.
Radiographers or Medical Radiation Technologists* at seven DHBs - Southland, Otago, Canterbury, Hutt Valley, Tairawhiti
(Gisborne), Lakes (Rotorua), and Bay of Plenty – plan to stop work for three days from Tuesday 12 September.
Dr Dwayne Crombie, CEO of Waitemata District Health Board and Spokesperson for the DHBs, says the radiographers’ union
has also lodged notice of a second strike notice for all but Tairawhiti – this time for one day on Tuesday 19 September.
A third notice has also been threatened.
“This tactic of rolling action is deliberately designed to minimise the impact on them and maximise the disruption to
patients – the union is using patients as pawns.
“Services will be significantly affected if the 3-day strike goes ahead. The hospitals involved will be providing
limited services, mainly for acute patients. Anyone with a life threatening situation will have access to X-rays but
other patients will be sent elsewhere,” say Dr Crombie.
“Elective surgery at the hospitals involved will have to be postponed during the action and outpatient clinics will be
reduced over the next week or so to ensure patient numbers are as low as possible if the action goes ahead.
“This campaign of rolling action is clearly designed to make it as hard as possible for hospitals to catch up and
reschedule the patients affected by the first strike.”
Dr Crombie says contingency planning is well advanced and hospitals not involved in the strike will provide cover
although this action has been organised
“We have two days of talks scheduled for Thursday and Friday this week – to serve another notice and threaten a third
before we’ve even got to the table really questions the motives of this union and whether or not they’re negotiating in
good faith. Threatening patient care doesn't make the union’s demands any more affordable.”
DHBs acknowledge these MRTs want terms and conditions consistent with other MRTs, but there are a large number of
greatly varying rates and aligning them all is simply not affordable. “DHBs believe terms and conditions for all MRTs
should be consistent with other Allied Health Workers and Nurses – our offer takes a significant step towards that.”
He says other health groups have overcome similar issues and reached a settlement without needing to strike. “MRTs are
an important part of the wider healthcare team, but negotiation is more than giving the union everything it demands.”
“We want a negotiated settlement, but it can't be at any price. As with the recent strikes by Radiation Therapists and
junior doctors, this group would be making a mistake to underestimate the resolve of the DHB.”
ENDS