Medical radiation technologies secure a collective pay deal.

Medical radiation technologists (MRTs) in six district health boards (DHBs) in the South Island and lower North Island have achieved a multi-employer collective agreement (MECA). After protracted negotiations, which began in February last year and included a threat of industrial action and two mediation sessions, a deal was finally reached last month. The deal includes a three percent pay increase to all existing rates, phased in at various times across the DHBs during the course of the agreement. It was accepted by 70 percent of the membership at ratification meetings last month. The MECA covers MRTs, sonographers, nuclear medicine technologists, dark room technicians, radiology and MRT assistants and medical radiation imaging technologists--220 people all up. The DHBs in the MECA are Southland, Otago, South Canterbury, Canterbury, Wairarapa and Hutt Valley. The MRTs at Nelson Marlborough and West Coast DHBs chose not to join the MECA. The term of the MECA is from January 1, 2004 to June 30, 2006.

NZNO lead advocates, organising co-ordinator Chris Wilson and industrial adviser Glenda Alexander, said the negotiations had been difficult for a number of reasons. "We were bringing together six quite diverse existing agreements. The conditions in the six local agreements were more disparate and diverse than we had originally thought. This meant the process of of identifying compromise without reducing conditions was extremely difficult," they said.

The 70 percent vote meant a number of people did not think the deal was acceptable but Wilson and Alexander stressed that it was important not to lose sight of the fact that that building a larger bargaining base was the most effective way of achieving bargaining goals.

As well as the pay increase, a new pay scale and progression criteria were developed. There are now six steps in the MRT grade two scale, with pay rates ranging from $51,265 for an MRT on step one, working a 40-hour week, to $61,520 for an MRT on step six, working 40 hours a week. The MRT grade one also has six steps with pay scales ranging from $37,390 (step one, 40 hours) to $50,377 (step six, 40 hours). Progression through the salary scales is by annual automatic increment subject to satisfactory performance, with the exception of the merit steps. These steps are steps five and six on the MRT grade two scale and step six on the MRT grade one scale.

Other aspects of the deal include:

* retention of the 70-hour and 80-hour provisions;

* overtime for hours worked in excess of eight hours at time and a half for the first three hours and double time thereafter;

* standardisation of on-call payments at $2.50 an hour from October 1, 2005;

* a minimum call back payment of two hours at double time and then payment at the overtime rate for call backs longer than two hours;

* a standard sick leave provision of ten days a year, accumulating to 90 days;

* up to five extra days' leave is available by working qualifiying shifts;

* standardised study/professional development leave clause, including actual and reasonable costs when employer requires members to undertake study for professional development and to meet competency requirements under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act; and

* preference for reappointment after absence for childcare for up to four years. NZNO's negotiating team recommended the settlement. Wilson and Alexander said base rates had been improved to be consistent with other health professionals and some improvements to conditions, mirroring other health collective agreements had been gained. The expiry date (June 30, 2006) allowed for further consolidation with other MRTs nationally.

"We have six DHBs covered by one agreement, with conditions being lined up with at least three other DHBs in the North Island. By the expiry date of this new MECA, we will be able to Look at consolidating bargaining futher with other North Island DHBs," they said.

Wilson and Alexander thanked the negotiating team for their hard work and commitment. Those on the team were: Andrew Baird (Southland DHB), Rayleen Bracewell (Otago DHB), Debbie O'Neill (South Canterbury DHB), Sacha Milne (Canterbury DHB), Larraine Maguren (Hutt Valley DHB), and Chris Sami (Wairarapa DHB).