KEY POINTS:
The pay dispute between junior doctors and district health boards (DHBs) is over, with the doctors accepting a new deal.
The doctors are to receive a 5.8 per cent payrise, in an agreement estimated to cost DHBs $10 million over 18 months.
The settlement brings to an end a long-running and sometimes bitter pay and roster dispute.
About 2500 junior doctors went on a five-day strike in August after contract talks broke down in June.
The nationwide industrial action reduced services at hospitals, affecting the care of 17,000 people.
NZ Resident Doctors Association (NZRDA) general secretary Dr Deborah Powell said positive negotiations ended the "bitter" dispute.
The collective agreement was effective only until July 2007, she said.
Dr Powell said under the settlement it was agreed there would be no changes to conditions of employment unless all the members of a committee and at least two-thirds of affected resident doctors agreed.
Any permanent changes to the collective agreement would require all NZRDA members to vote.
Dr Powell said negotiations became drawn out after DHBs insisted on appointing a committee to settle future employment issues.
However, this committee would have bypassed the requirement to seek RMO consensus during the settlement process leaving future workplace conditions for its members in the hands of just four representatives, she said.
"This would be a far cry from the existing system where doctors require a majority vote of members before new, and more importantly, reduced workplace conditions are implemented."
Dr Powell said while the outcome of the negotiations was positive, she warned the agreement was only effective till July next year when the agreement expired.
- NZPA
