Covid 19 coronavirus: Nurses on frontline of pandemic demand pay parity with DHB counterparts

Nurses rally on Bealey Ave, Christchurch. Photo / RNZ

By RNZ

Thousands of nurses and workers sidewise 500 primary health care facilities downed their tools today to requirement for pay parity with their district genuine health board counterparts.

Nurses working in general practices and an urgent situation centres across the motu took to your streets to rally support prior to hosting plight. Some of them are those tasked to swabbing for Covid-19 tests.

In Hamilton, a group of personnel waved banners declaring “quality business needs quality pay”.

“We’re a very talented group of rns and we are not recognised by the competence we have, ” one nurse claims.

Another said currently the nurses had “rolled-over” for a long time because of their love and drive relating to the job and their patients.

“We’re all equally qualified considering that DHB, ” she said.

In Christchurch, practice dress designer Sarah Watkeys said, through rips, that staff were working to the entire bone on the Covid-19 response frontlines.

Nurses rally in Christchurch. Graphic / RNZ

“The lack of value which is given to us brings me to finally tears. Why did we apply thoroughly that if they are not going to show us we need value? ”

Christchurch nurse Suli Tuitaupe – who else works with a lot of Māori and Pasifika patients – said it was but fair that community practices wants paid equally.

Related articles

“DHBs expect care to be in the area, to be placed in the homes intercourse need to reflect that in our payscales, ” he said.

In Dunedin, nurse Andrea Buxton said it was time primary to improve workers were recognised.

“We talk to our colleagues in DHB, they work hard as well, shed earn at least 10 percent more than the things we do, and we do the same work, very well she said.

Nurses’ strike to Hamilton. Photo / RNZ

Another Dunedin nurse Suzanne Crosado resented seriously treated differently from others doing her field, especially when it located the Covid-19 response work.

“We get a nice tad letter with a pat on the earlier from the Minister of Health actually saying thanks for all your work. That was therefore , demeaning, ” she said.

“After all the work we with, and we had to do it while creating everything else. How insulting. ”

She said the hospital appeared to think it could offload work forward to primary care services, despite élément being stretched, workers burnt out in the open, and being underfunded.

“Why shouldn’t we be ads exactly the same as everybody else? ” your darling asked.

In Wellington, lead Nurses Organisation advocate Abbie Wilson told a crowd gathered beyond Parliament that the situation was unpleasant.

Nurses protest outside the Ministry coming from all Health in Wellington. Photo and RNZ

“The frustration and anger in addition disrespect you must all be feeling for if she is not heard after one year of ineffective negotiations is just not acceptable, ” Pat said.

“What is it necessary to do to be recognised? You’re entry door of health. ”

Director general of currently being Dr Ashley Bloomfield said fundamental care workers and admin worker were critical to the Covid-19 frequency response and acknowledged it was understandable fruits concerned about a pay gap examining.

Bloomfield said he was working with the ministry and DHBs to find a solution.

Some sort of Nurses Organisation has urged those particular groups to meet with primary wellbeing employers before the next strike throughout two weeks’ time.