Formal notice of industrial action by members of NZNO & MERAS received for 19 August Kia Ora The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) and MERAS, whose members are nurses, health care assistants and midwives have given notice of full withdrawal of labour strike action on Thursday 19 August, at both Tauranga and Whakatāne Hospitals. Negotiations between the 20 District Health Boards and NZNO and MERAS for the renewal of their collective employment agreement, have been on-going for some time. The negotiations with the unions are ongoing. To date the parties have not been able to reach agreement about their concerns for pay We remain committed to working with NZNO and MERAS to address their concerns and are hopeful we can reach an amicable resolution, ideally through the mediation process. However, if this is not possible, we can expect the industrial action we have been notified of by NZNO and MERAS ie. a full withdrawal of labour by its members, on Thursday 19 August. • •
NZNO members industrial action from 11am to 7pm MERAS members industrial action from 8am to 8pm
This will mean that we will have a greatly reduced number of nurses and midwives on our wards and in the Emergency Departments of both Tauranga and Whakatāne hospitals. We will be reducing elective surgery in the days leading up to the strike and on the day of strike action, there will be no outpatients’ clinics or elective surgery. Maternity care for women and their pēpi will be as normal. Planned caesareans will be rescheduled and the hospital will advise of any changes. Any caesarean that is urgent will not be delayed. We will be asking family members of patients to provide personal care to their loved ones on the wards should they wish (including washing, dressing, toileting and feeding). Our aim is to keep everyone safe during the strike – patients, whānau and staff alike – and that will mean changes to normal services. To prepare for a disruption of this level, we have a large team in place undertaking contingency planning to ensure the ongoing safety of all patients, whānau, visitors and staff on our sites, should industrial action occur on that day. Ngā mihi Julie Robinson Lead Contingency Planning BOPDHB XX August 2021
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