Lab Workers Striking After Being Slammed At Hospital

Southern community laboratory lab workers have been striking for better work conditions and warn another could be underway later this month.

The group’s collective contract expired on June 31 and they rejected the initial 5% offer, but negotiations are ongoing and the next decision will be made on August 18.

Union delegate Karen Elizabeth said the initial offer wouldn’t even bring them into line with what their colleagues were earning for Health New Zealand.

“Also the conditions in the lab at the moment are crazy. We’re always short staffed, and people have been quitting left, right and centre, so we’re always training new staff.”

Southland Hospital should have eight full time scientists but at the moment only have 5.5.

“We’re working horrendous hours.  The work load post-covid is insane and some of us are barely above minimum wage.”

Karen said some workers are struggling to make ends meet “when you’re running around all day caring for people’s health.”

“What we do is super important and nobody, not even our employers appreciate what we do.”

Karen said a few weeks ago she got a call from a colleague who said the doctor from the hospital rang to ask why the results weren’t out yet, “and was then told she was killing the patient.  This is what we deal with everyday.”

Many felt that it would be better to just go work at a grocery story, where you need no degree, no student loan, “and in some cases the same amount of pay for a fraction of the stress and responsibility.”

“If they want people to keep doing this job, they need to pay us better, otherwise there will be no staff and no labs.”

Karen has been working in her job for 15 years and said post Covid they have been swamped.

“I don’t know if it’s because people are more aware of their health and being proactive about tests, or just getting sicker.  But A&E is slammed as well.”

Other laboratory workers have also been striking in the South Island and in Wellington, which includes scientists, technicians and phlebotomists.

Additional reporting by Kelly.