KEY POINTS:
The union for about 1300 clerical and administration workers and seven North Island district health boards have set a date for mediation over an ongoing pay dispute.
The two sides will meet on November 27 for talks facilitated by the Department of Labour's mediation service.
Staff at DHBs in the Hutt Valley, Hawke's Bay, Whanganui, MidCentral, Taranaki, Capital Coast and Wairarapa are seeking a pay raise to keep pace with the consumer price index.
So far, they had been offered 2.93 per cent in the first year and 2.4 per cent in the second, Public Service Assocation national secretary Richard Wagstaff said.
"These workers are amongst the lowest paid in the DHBs and deserve a pay offer which takes into account their value to the health system and increases in the cost of living," he said.
"Administration and clerical staff in District Health Boards are the backbone of our public health system and need to be recognised for the important work they do."
- NZPA
