Senior doctors congratulate South Island clerical workers
6 September 2016
Senior doctors congratulate South Island clerical workers for achieving significant pay rise
“Clerical staff working in the South Island’s public hospitals are to be congratulated for achieving a solid pay rise after many years of neglect,” says Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS).
He was commenting on the news the Public Service Association has negotiated a pay rise of 10-15% for clerical workers employed by South Island district health boards (http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/83900183/pay-claim-to-cost-south-island-dhbs-74-million).
“Medical secretaries and other clerical workers do essential work within public hospitals, and their work is integral to hospital specialists and other health professionals who provide front line clinical treatment,” says Mr Powell.
“However, for years they have been devalued by government through derogatory populist references to so-called ‘back office’ work and overlooked by their DHB employers. This pay rise will go some way towards addressing this historical neglect, thanks to a sustained campaign by these valued DHB staff and their union.”
ENDS