Radiographers calling for pay parity have accused District Health Board chief executives of vetoing a mediated settlement between their union and DHB representatives at the eleventh hour.
However, the DHBs denied a settlement had been reached, saying the positions of the two parties were still "significantly apart".
Radiographers walked off
the job for three days last month, closing down radiology services in seven regions and putting hospitals on an emergency footing.
They are seeking pay parity with radiographers in other parts of the country.
The seven DHBs affected are Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Rotorua, Hutt Valley, Canterbury, Otago and Southland.
Today the Association of Professionals and Executive Employees (Apex) said negotiations for pay parity had been ongoing for seven months.
Apex national secretary Dr Deborah Powell said a settlement that satisfied both mediating parties was reached last week after days of "intense discussions".
But DHB chief executives had vetoed the agreement, in a move that called into question the entire negotiating process, she said.
"To have this agreement vetoed by DHB chief executives, and then to be told to start again when we have already reached a satisfactory agreement is extremely frustrating."
Dr Powell said if the negotiating team's conclusions were not good enough for the chief executives then it begged the question why the unions were negotiating with them at all.
"We should be dealing direct with the chief executives if they are the ones making the decisions. Anything else appears a waste of time."
However, Hutt Valley DHB chief executive Chai Chuah said the union's claim a settlement had been reached was wrong.
"There was never a mediated settlement of agreement for DHBs to consider," said Mr Chuah.
"We considered the unions' latest claim and we are still significantly apart.
"While there has been some progress in the talks, the cost to the DHBs involved is an average of 20 per cent over two years. That is the issue."
- NZPA
