Resident Doctors Negotiation Settled

4 May 2011

District Health Boards are pleased to announce that they have a formally settled with the Resident Medical Officers (RMOs) (sometimes referred to as ‘junior’ Doctors).

“This is good news for a health sector that will be engaged in pay negotiations with over 80% of its staff over the next few months,” says DHBs’ spokesperson Graham Dyer.

“We are delighted that a settlement with the Resident Doctors has been achieved which acknowledges the constraints facing the health sector and the country in general; and which commits to positive engagement on the issues facing this workforce. The RMOs and the leadership in their union should be applauded for leading by example.”

The sector is resolved in this being a time for change and in the formal settlement -- lasting for a year -- the RMOs have foregone a pay increase in 2011 and will engage in a work programme which will support joint work with the DHBs on key issues. These issues include how to improve training and support services at both a national and local level for this unique group of employees as they progress their careers towards becoming Senior Medical Officers (SMOs) in New Zealand.

“The DHBs are impressed and encouraged by the development of a changed relationship with the resident doctors union in 2011. We are also grateful to the Department of Labour’s Partnership Resource Centre for the assistance they provided in changing the dynamics of this relationship which previously resulted in strikes as an inevitable feature of bargaining.

“DHBs acknowledge these are just the first steps in dealing with the concerns facing DHBs and RMOs. But they are very positive first steps,” Mr Dyer says.

“DHBs are hopeful that the leadership demonstrated by their 3000 RMOs and their union will set the tone for bargaining in the health sector this year, and that other employees and their unions will come to the table equally prepared to engage in this way” says Mr Dyer

ENDS

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