Pathlab strike: Tauranga worker claims he’d earn extra $30k for same job at Waikato Hospital

A Tauranga Pathlab worker says he would earn an extra $30,000 annually for the same job at Waikato Hospital.

A Rotorua Pathlab worker says it is difficult to attract and retain staff as they earn “significantly less” than their Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora counterparts.

Pay parity is one of the reasons why Pathlab Tauranga senior medical laboratory scientist Steven Clements and Pathlab Rotorua senior scientist Casey Lowe are striking on February 5 and 7 alongside other medical laboratory workers in New Zealand.

The Pathlab clinic in Greerton. Photo / Alex Cairns

The specialist union for allied, scientific and technical employees – Apex – says the strike will impact the majority of hospital and community services.

The strikes follow Apex’s bargaining claims for pay parity being rejected in three multi-employer collective agreement negotiations with Awanui Labs, Pathlab Limited and Medlab Central/Tlab.

“Medical laboratory workers employed in these labs are paid on average 28% to 32% less than their Te Whatu Ora counterparts, despite performing the same work.

“The members' message is simple: ‘Same work, same pay’.”

Pathlab says it understands the concerns raised and the challenges posed by pay discrepancies and is working with officials on the matter.

Health NZ says planning is under way to minimise any impacts on hospitals and community-based health services and working to ensure “life-preserving services” are in place.

‘It’s not sustainable’

Clements told the Bay of Plenty Times medical laboratory workers had earned about 30% less than their Health NZ counterparts for about two years.

“If I went an hour up the road to Waikato Hospital, I’d get about $30,000 a year more.

“It’s not sustainable.”

Clements also participated in a Pathlab strike for pay parity in April.

He claimed there was an “unofficial” hiring freeze at Health NZ.

“The moment that lifts, we’re going to see a huge loss of staff going to those jobs and evacuating the region ... that’s going to really badly impact people in those regions if this isn’t rectified.”

Steven Clements (front left) pictured alongside other Pathlab workers in April 2024 when they went on strike. Photo / Alex Cairns

He said about 80% of doctors’ diagnoses were made using medical laboratory science results from blood tests, cultures, and histology.

“We’re usually considered as [an] integral part of the healthcare system as a nurse or a doctor.”

Entry-level staff member earning ‘just above’ minimum wage

Lowe was striking for pay parity and “lifting everybody’s wages”.

“We do the same job as the Te Whatu Ora labs, but we’re paid significantly less.

“We understand there’s budgetary constraints ... but it is difficult retaining staff and getting staff in the jobs that are vacant.”

She said an entry-level staff member earned “just above minimum wage”.

Senior scientist Casey Lowe works at the Pathlab clinic at Rotorua Hospital. Photo / Andrew Warner

Lowe – who works at the Rotorua Hospital Pathlab clinic – said the closest Te Whatu Ora laboratories were at Waikato and Auckland hospitals.

Asked if she had considered moving, Lowe said: “I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t been looking.”

Members ‘burning out’

Apex advocate Sam Heimsath said the wage gap had created an “untenable recruitment and retention environment for privately owned laboratories”.

Consequently, several members were working unsafely, burning out and leaving the sector, which threatened the “sustainable provision” of hospital and community diagnostic services, Heimsath said.

Strike will have ‘significant’ impact in Rotorua, Waikato, Taupō, Whakatāne

A Pathlab statement said it understood members’ concerns and recognised the challenges posed by pay discrepancies following the previous Government’s pay equity settlements for public sector employees.

“We are committed to working constructively with officials on this matter.”

The statement said Pathlab was working to minimise the impact of industrial action on patients and the Tauranga, Waikato, Rotorua, Taupō, and Whakatāne communities.

Pathlab apologised for any inconvenience caused.

“Our laboratories play an essential role in the provision of healthcare services, and we are working closely with the union, hospitals, and health professionals to ensure essential life-preserving services remain available and ongoing disruption to the community can be minimised.”

The statement said community sample collection rooms in Rotorua, Waikato, Taupō and Whakatāne would likely be “significantly impacted”.

“We recommend people defer non-urgent testing until the following week or contact their GP if there are concerns about delays.”

Pathlab anticipated less impact on community sample collection rooms in Tauranga.

Pathlab encouraged people to check its website for up-to-date information on services across all locations before travelling.

Health NZ responds

Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora living well director Martin Hefford said the Apex union announced on January 20 its members planned to strike on February 5 and 7 in Whangārei, Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Tairāwhiti, Lakes, Taranaki, Whanganui, MidCentral, Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa, Capital Coast Hutt Valley and the South Island.

Laboratory services would be impacted for three days because February 5 and 7 fell either side of Waitangi Day, he said.

The strikes would have “varying impacts”, including Health NZ’s ability to deliver planned care across its hospitals in Invercargill, Dunedin, Queenstown, Timaru, Nelson, Wairau, Wellington, Palmerston North, Whanganui, Gisborne, Rotorua, Taupō, Whakatāne and Tauranga.

Hefford reassured New Zealanders planning was under way to manage and minimise these impacts.

“All our hospitals and emergency departments will remain open, and we are liaising with the private laboratories to ensure patients who require urgent and critical care receive the services they need, including testing carried out at hospitals and in the community.”

Hefford said patients should attend Health NZ outpatient appointments or surgery as planned, unless contacted directly.

Community laboratory services would be impacted, but effects were not expected to be acute, he said.

“Health NZ expects the private laboratories to work with the union to ensure contingency plans and life-preserving services are in place.”

He said Health NZ respected the right of workers to strike and any questions should be directed to the employers or union. Health NZ was not involved in the bargaining.

Megan Wilson is a health and general news reporter for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post. She has been a journalist since 2021.