2 Mar 2016

Auckland hospital workers vote for strike action

8:15 am on 2 March 2016

Hospital workers at three Auckland DHBs have voted to strike next month.

The planned industrial action involves 3000 workers including anaesthetic technicians, pharmacists and mental health workers.

Emergency services will be maintained during any strike, as happened in rolling strikes at the DHBs late last year.

Public Service Association says the DHBs want to cut weekend pay rates while making more staff work weekends. Collective contract talks have stalled.

A spokesperson for the Auckland, Counties-Manukau and Waitemata DHBs said they were surprised by the notice of strike action as most staff were lukewarm about previous strikes.