Hospital workers name strike date

Unionised workers who take x-rays and other types of scans at public hospitals have planned to go on strike, nationwide, for 24 hours on Tuesday, September 7.

The move, announced today by the Association of Professionals and Executive Employees (APEX), marks a deterioration in the long-running industrial dispute between the union and district health boards.

Medical radiation technologists who are members of the APEX union have, in a bid to improve their pay rates, been engaged in low-level industrial action for months - things like refusing to do overtime and taking the rest breaks they are entitled to.

The union said today members were outraged that some had been suspended by the Counties Manukau District Health Board, prompting the notice of a nationwide strike.

Nationwide strikes by medical radiation technologists (MRTs) are highly disruptive because x-rays and other scans are central to the diagnosis of most patients' conditions.

APEX spokeswoman Robyn Slater said: "The only reason why DHBs are suspending us is to bully MRTs into accepting what is an unacceptable offer. MRTs are not going to be bullied."

The union said it began bargaining with the district health boards more than a year ago after six months of a "zero pay offer" from the DHBs. Their collective agreement expired last September. Six months later, after after initiating limited industrial action, they were offered a 1 per cent pay rise, with a further 1 per cent rise later this year. Backdating to the expiry of the last agreement was not offered.

Mrs Slater said the refusal to offer backdating of the pay rise had greatly increased the tension between the parties.

The union said MRTs would maintain life-preserving services during the strike.