Radiation staff begin rolling strikes

About 170 hospital radiation therapists started rolling industrial action today, which will affect six District Health Boards over the next two weeks.

DHB national contingency co-ordinator Anne Aitcheson said the industrial action, over a pay dispute, would consist of a "range of actions".

These included the therapists, who provide cancer treatment, refusing to do overtime or stopping work for periods between 45 minutes and four hours.

The work stoppages would not affect all the DHBs at the same time, she said.

Today radiation staff from Auckland and Canterbury DHBs had work stoppages.

The industrial action will also affect Waikato, MidCentral, Capital and Coast, and Otago DHBs.

Today's industrial action is separate to the radiographer's strike.

Radiographers are currently in negotiations with DHBs over pay parity between regions.

- NZPA