Nurses and administrators at Nurse Maude Care Coordination in Porirua and the Hutt Valley have commenced a week-long strike action from today (Thursday 29 November).

"Put simply, PSA members at Nurse Maude are taking a stand against a decade of erosion of their pay rates," said Kerry Davies, PSA national secretary.

"Nurses and administrators at Nurse Maude have been holding the service together under increasing workloads and under resourcing for the last 10 years.

"This strike action underlines the call PSA members at Nurse Maude are making to the employer, Nurse Maude, to make representations to Capital & Coast DHB and Hutt Valley DHB to urgently address funding constraints.

"Closing the gap between the pay gains achieved by nurses at District Health Boards and achieving pay parity is a major issue.

"The slippage in pay rates that has occurred over the last decade needs to be challenged before it gets even worse and to prevent nurses and administrators falling further and further behind - which is adding to problems with recruitment and retention in an essential part of the health system.

"The situation for administrators is so dire that many of them are on pay levels below the Living Wage. Their colleagues are standing together to fight for the recognition and pay they deserve".

The strike action consists of withdrawal of labour across specific activities carried out by Administrators, Clinical Screeners and Care

Managers.

ENDS

© Scoop Media