Over 3,500 health workers have approved a new collective agreement with Health New Zealand following a negotiation marathon which occurred for more than a year.
The agreement covers mental health nurses and assistants, delivering a 2.5% pay increase plus an $800 lump-sum payment for each.
Health New Zealand and the Public Service Association finalised the agreement after 18 months of negotiations.
Public Service Association national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons called the deal a positive step for workers while urging more funding to tackle the health system’s challenges.
Fitzsimons noted that Health New Zealand’s initial offers were unreasonably low, requiring strike action to secure a fair deal.
She also stressed that additional funding is essential to resolve the health system’s underlying issues.
“All political parties must commit to a properly funded public health system that ensures safe staffing levels and delivers quality care for all New Zealanders.”
Last Tuesday, the collective agreement for 12,000 allied health workers was also ratified.
A vote on the third health agreement for policy, advisory, knowledge, and specialist workers, is coming up soon.
Health NZ Executive National Director, People & Culture and Health & Safety, Robyn Shearer, highlighted that the deal boosts professional development allowances for nurse practitioners and commits to recruiting over 550 new positions this financial year.
Nurses will get a 2.5% salary rise in year one and 2% in year two over 24 months, plus the $800 lump sum. Enrolled nurses also receive a $2,000 flat-rate boost at the top step, Shearer stated.