Nurses Take Protest Action Over Pay Dispute As Part Of Nationwide Action

A group of Invers medical practise nurses have picked up the placards and gone in to town to show their dissatisfaction at the breakdown of negotiations over their pay.

Up to 3000 nurses and admin staff around the country have downed tools for eight hours today, affecting 500 GPs and accident and medical centres.

NZNO (NZ Nurses Organisation) Southland Spokesperson Simone Montgomery told whatsoninvers that the action is not against their employers but about parity.

Ms Montgomery says nurses at private medical practices can be up to 10% behind in pay against nurses working for DHB’s.

She stressed that the nurses protest action doesn’t mean that doctors surgery’s are closed today.

Ms Montgomery says most employers are very supportive of the action the nurses are taking.

Yesterday Health Minister Chris Hipkins steered away from the issue telling media “Their pay and conditions are not negotiated with the Government or Crown entities,” Hipkins said, saying their pay was a matter for them and their employers, who are running private businesses.