WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 2018
DHBs receive second notice of strike action
District Health Boards today received notice of a second strike by New Zealand Nurses Organisation members.
DHB spokesperson Helen Mason says NZNO nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants are scheduled to strike for 24 hours
from 07:00am next Thursday 5 July and have now confirmed they will strike for a second time a week later on Thursday 12
July.
“We have asked the Employment Relations Authority for facilitation to help settle these negotiations and will be meeting
in Wellington with them and the NZNO on Thursday and Friday.
“DHBs will do everything they can to reach a settlement and avoid the strikes. We will not be making further comment or
providing interviews until after the process is concluded.
“DHBs are already implementing contingency plans for the first strike and will now start to finalise plans for the
second one.
“Our priority is ensuring we can keep everyone safe – patients and staff alike – and that means significant disruption
to normal services.
“To reduce demand on services and patient numbers as much as possible before the strike, non-acute and elective
procedures are being deferred leading up to, and after, 5 July. DHBs are contacting people affected to provide more
information.
“Emergency and essential services will be available during the strike.”
Ms Mason says if the strike goes ahead, people should not delay seeking medical treatment and go to hospital if the
matter is urgent. They should dial 111 for emergencies or an ambulance.
For all other matters people should do what they normally do and visit their GP or visit a local pharmacy, and free
medical advice is available 24/7 through Healthline (phone 0800 Healthline – 0800 611 116).
ENDS