Hospice members begin national negotiations.

NZNO members in 16 hospices throughout the country are preparing for their first ever multi-employer collective agreement (MECA). Members were attending meetings to endorse the negotiating team, claims and ratification process as Kai Tiaki New Zealand went to press. Negotiations were scheduled to begin this month, with more scheduled next month.

The principle is parity with the national district health board (DHB) MECA for registered and enrolled nurses, senior nurses and health care assistants (HCAs). This consists of the whole package of pay rates, penal rates, on call, call back, overtime, annual leave, professional development Leave and other core conditions.

A vote on whether to settle a binding collective agreement will be put to the members at a meeting in which the majority decision of the members will be binding on all members.

For some NZNO members this with be their first collective agreement after being on individual employment agreements. Members at Hospice Wanganui and Arohanui are two groups keen to see the MECA in place.

NZNO's negotiating team is: Libby Jensen, registered nurse (RN), Otago Community Hospice; Kirsty Robertson, enrolled nurse (EN), Hospice Southland; Roberta Jones, HCA, Hospice Wanganui; Robyn TayLor, RN, Te Omanga Hospice; Beth Brewer, RN, Waikato Hospice; Sonya Brass, RN, North Shore Hospice; and NZNO organisers Laura Thomas and Mark Lennox.

Sadly NZNO members at Cranford Hospice in Hawke's Bay are unable to be part of the negotiations at this stage as their employer has initiated bargaining for a collective agreement covering just their workplace. Discussions are continuing with the employer to find a way forward.