Pay rise will help keep nurses here

Auckland nurse Jo West expects the big pay rises offered to nurses nationwide will help to stem the loss of staff overseas.

Health boards have offered the Nurses Organisation rises of about 20 per cent to most nurses in a 2 1/2-year deal backdated to last July.

The first national nurses' pay deal since 1991 will cost the Government $380 million and meets the demands of the union's Fair Pay campaign.

Mrs West, a 37-year-old union delegate and heart ward charge nurse at Auckland City Hospital, is paid a base salary of just over $60,000.

The offer, yet to be ratified by the union's 20,000 nurse, midwife and healthcare assistant members, will progressively give senior nurses rises of about 21 per cent, depending on a job-sizing assessment.

Base rates increase about 20 per cent for rank-and-file registered nurses and midwives, about 18 per cent for enrolled nurses and 19 per cent for healthcare assistants, although the take-home pay rise for some Auckland assistants will be about 14 per cent.

"I'm confident the increases are going to be more than I have ever experienced in my career," said Mrs West, a nurse for 17 years and a member of the negotiating team. "It is a landmark package we are bringing out for members to vote on."

She said she was once tempted to go nursing in the United States, lured by better pay and the prospect of seeing the world. Family ties and sporting commitments changed her mind, but she watched many colleagues go overseas. The pay offer would help to stop the exodus.

"It's a first step in having nurses feel they can stay in this country and have a good salary structure that they are going to be able to support their families on and have some career and educational opportunities.

"We're encouraged by the safe-staffing inquiry that's part of the package as well."

In parts of some hospitals nurses had to cope with unsafe staffing levels, Mrs West said. Shortages meant many nurses were overworked and felt they could not provide the level of care patients needed.

The boards dispute the union's claim of a national shortage of 2000 nurses, saying they had 650 vacancies in September that were generally covered by overtime and temporary nurses.

Boards' spokesman Jim Green said the pay of some senior nurses in specialist and leadership positions would rise up to 30 per cent in the package. 

Pay Comparisons

All rates are at July 2006, but the police rates assume a 3 per cent increase that has not yet been negotiated.

Entry 5th year

Top of scale

Registered nurse: (base rate)$40,000, $54,000, $54,000 (including average shift allowances)$46,000 $62,100 $62,100

Teacher with a three-year degree: $39,425, $48,123, $58,327

Police constable: $48,224, $52,901, $71,609 Note: The police rates include shift allowances and superannuation.