MECA negotiations continue this month: Hamilton.

Jenny Roy

APOLOGIES FOR no report and update over the last couple of months. It has been particularly busy with negotiations and settlement of the Northern Districts Multi-Employer Collective Agreement (MECA).

With many negotiations occurring, it has again become evident there are a number of members who need to update their workplace and contact details. If members have changed address, workplace, name or designation, please contact membership on 0800 28 38 48.

Whakatane and Tauranga Hospitals (Bay of Plenty District Health Board): There has been a lot of activity at these sites over the last couple of months with ratification of the MECA and discussions around its implementation. As part of the settlement, two working parties in progress. The first is the senior nurses scoping exercise. This is to identify how the components of a position fit, ie job size, complexity, experience, responsibility among other criteria within the salary band.

The second working party involves developing a consistent professional development programme/clinical career pathway/ nursing career pathway in the five DHBs where possible, with the aim of having a transparent and transportable process for nurses and midwives. (See box below.)

Negotiations for Tauranga Hospital orderlies have been completed and although members ratified the offer, fell short of what they deserved and expected.

A working party has been looking at the value and potential of a trial of 12-hour shifts for midwives working in delivery suite at Tauranga Hospital. The trial is not in tended to set any precedent within the hospital. There are mixed views in the available literature as to the benefits of 12 hour shifts. Therefore, there will be some quite stringent review criteria in the trial period.

Anaesthetic technicians at both the Bay of Plenty (BOP) and Northland District Health Boards (DHB) have voted in favour of a MECA. Members at the BOP DHB are on individual agreements and in Northland they are on the expired nurses' and midwives' document. Negotiations were scheduled to begin in early August.

Norfolk Southern Cross: Members have ratified the employer's offer. This document will cover all theatre, ward, domestic and kitchen staff.

Waipuna Hospice: Members have completed collective agreement negotiations and ratified the offer from the employer. This is a short-term document to enable some other work to be undertaken prior to the next round of negotiations.

Jocelyn Pratt

I FINISHED my temporary, part-time position at the end of July, having worked the last 14 months, predominantly in the aged-care sector. I worked on health and safety issues and represented numerous members at mediations, settling personal grievances.

Hamilton MedLab: The recent settlement resulted in a 2.5 percent pay increase over a 12-month term.

Waikato Community Trust Hospice: We have completed three days of negotiations but have been unable to reach a settlement and are now, seeking mediation assistance.

Raglan Community Trust: Following the change of ownership last September from a community trust to private operators, Cavell Lifecare Limited, NZNO and the Service and Food Workers' Union have continued to negotiate a collective agreement. We have agreed on a draft agreement but are discussing the possibility of the employer passing on the recent increase in government funding to our members. Thanks to delegates and members over this long and frustrating process.

I have enjoyed working in aged care, where caregivers are grossly underpaid and undervalued for their skills and work caring for older persons. I thank all delegates for their support and for striving to improve conditions in the workplace.

I wish NZNO well in its aged-care campaign to increase union membership, improve wages, conditions and staffing. For NZNO to be successful and in light of the low density of NZNO members, NZNO needs to review the level of resources allocated to this sector and this campaign so it can take full advantage of the current labour law that allows unions access to sites and promotes collective bargaining. We cannot allow women providing care to the elderly to continue to be exploited and undervalued.