Nurses strike looks likely with revised pay offer causing upset

The NZ Nurses Organisation said the numbers in the DHBs' revised pay offer were misleading, and it was alarmed details were given to the media before the NZNO was informed, which jeopardised its ability to negotiate. Photo / Greg Bowker

The two-day nurses strike looks likely with the New Zealand Nurses Organisation saying they are "distressed" and "disappointed" with the DHBs' revised pay offer announced to media yesterday.

DHBs offered a 9 per cent pay rise by August next year, or the equivalent of bringing a quarter of a billion dollars more to the table, spokeswoman Helen Mason said at yesterday's press conference.

Mason said an average take-home pay for full-time experienced registered nurses (RNs) would be $93,000 a year by December 2019.

But NZNO industrial services manager Cee Payne said those numbers were "alarming".

Payne said these numbers were hypothetical and "best case" scenarios, which can only occur many, many months down into the term of the agreement.

"The hypothetical $93,000 came from an example of a nurse working full time, with some overtime and significant weekend and night work.

"The reality is that the majority of nurses in this bracket are not full time and not working rostered shifts on top of this.

"Most of our members report these numbers are entirely misleading compared to their rostered hours," Payne said.

Mason said the information was drawn from DHB payroll data and was based on the actual average earnings of RNs with at least five years experience - RNs on the top of their pay scale who make up about half the total workforce.

Payne said the organisation was disappointed that the offer was told to the media before NZNO members, which had jeopardised the organisation's ability to negotiate.

"We are disappointed at this DHB approach to the offer."

She said that many nurses had voiced their concern via social media and have contacted NZNO about this approach to the third offer.

"At present we are experiencing the fallout of the way the information about the revised offer was released," she said.

Mason said tonight that the Independent Panel set up to help settle these negotiations had publicly released its recommendations and there was intense public interest especially given the potential for strike action.

"I think people want to know that DHBs have taken on board the panel's recommendations that responded to the nurses' concerns.

"I hope nurses will take time to consider the offer that we understand will be explained to them by their union," Mason said.

NZNO will be working through the offer and will present a decision on Thursday.