“Senior Doctors Welcome Progress In Canterbury Dispute; Industrial Action Unmanageable”
“Senior doctors welcome the cautious progress made in the mediation last night in the dispute over the collective
agreement for nurses employed by the Canterbury District Health Board,” said Mr Ian Powell, Executive Director of the
Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, today.
“We recognise that the situation is extremely fragile and respect that nurses have their own internal democratic process
to go through in considering the proposed settlement. It is also important that significant progress is made today in
the separate negotiation covering mental health and care for the elderly.”
The alternative of an eight-day strike is not an alternative because it is unmanageable and without doubt patients will
be seriously harmed and, for some, the likely outcome will be fatal. What emergency powers the government might have
available would most likely be ineffective.”
“Everybody has become a casualty in this bitter dispute so far – nurses, doctors and managers. Whatever the outcome
there will be no winners. It is time to move on,” concluded Mr Powell.
Ian Powell
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR