National MECA for medical radiation technologists.

THE HEALTH Professionals New Zealand (HPNZ) Sector Group was intended to cover members who were non nurses and whose area of employment did not fit within other sector groups. It might have been labelled "allied health sector group", except for the anomaly of New Zealand Blood Service (NZBS) members, who are part of this group too. NZBS is, in fact, a district health board. However, we thought it was simpler to focus our approach in the DHB sector group on nurses and mid wives, rather than diversifying into NZBS members' issues. Thus it was decided to include NZBS in the HPNZ group, even though there are some nurses rather than allied health workers, employed by NZBS.

This sector group works on the issues for our members who are medical radiation technologists (MRTs), radiation technicians, dietitians, administrative staff, sterile supply technicians, anaesthetic technicians, laboratory technicians, phlebotomists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, social workers, clerical staff, pharmacists, information technology technicians, needs assessors, activities and scientific officers, pharmacy assistants, dark room assistants, sonographers, orderlies, cleaners, cooks and gardeners. Most of these members are employed by DHBs.

National M&CA

This year one of our major projects is the development of a national multi employer collective agreement (MECA) for MRTs. In the first instance, we are to start negotiating a South Island/lower North Island MECA, with the upper North Island negotiations to follow later in the year when those collectives expire.

The next phase of this project will be to bring both of those MECAs into a single national MECA.

Last year we were able to progress national negotiations for our NZBS members. We will be renegotiating this agreement in June this year.

We have a number of objectives for this sector group, including developing better communication with HPNZ members and increasing their profile. We hope to develop a newsletter targeted at HPNZ members and their needs. We will also be looking at ways to consolidate bargaining for these members across the country. We may explore the feasibility of an NZNO allied health national MECA or look at the potential for further regional consolidation.