Tauranga midwives on strike: 'Your delivery for us is overdue'

About a dozen Tauranga midwives and their supporters have gathered to protest outside the Tauranga Hospital.

The midwives, who have formed a picket line along Cameron Rd, are among members of the Midwifery Employee Representation Service union taking part in a 12-hour strike from 9am to 9pm in Whakatāne and the Tauranga today.

It one of a number of strikes the midwives are holding around New Zealand this week.

Among those striking is Sally Johns, who has been a midwife at the hospital for eight years.

She is supported by her parents Ernie and Susan Haine, who are holding placards that read: "It's time to push. We have delivered for you, your delivery for us is overdue".

Motorists are showing their support by tooting as they drive past the protestors.

The protest is planned to continue until 1pm today, however, midwives at the scene say "the fight is far from over".

Midwifery Employee Representation Service union member Wendy Collard said the reason for the strike action was because the district health boards were not listening and midwives were tired and frustrated with there being no resolution.

A spokesman for the District Health Boards said yesterday that the DBHs were in negotiations and would respond to the union later this week.

Junior doctors in Tauranga are also on strike today.

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