Back to bargaining for lower North Island nurses

Lower North Island nurses have rejected an employment agreement proposal by District Health Boards and are to go back to negotiations.

Nurses, midwives and health assistants covered by the Lower North Island Multi Employer Collective Agreement (MECA) rejected the settlement proposal, their union the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) said in a statement.

The two sides would return to the negotiating table as soon as possible.

NZNO advocate Lyn Olsthoorn said members' meetings over the past fortnight had consistently identified some key issues which needed to be addressed when talks resumed.

The Lower North Island MECA covers 4000 nurses, midwives and health assistants in seven DHBs.

The DHBs are Taranaki Health, Hutt Valley DHB, Whanganui DHB, Wairarapa DHB, MidCentral DHB, Hawkes Bay and Capital and Coast DHB. Early last month nurses called off a strike after the union agreed to the settlement.

However, members in meetings over the past few weeks did not ratify it.

- NZPA