Radiographers deciding on offer

File photo / Sarah Ivey

Radiographers are mulling over the latest contract offer from district health boards and a decision on whether or not to accept should be known this afternoon.

Apex, representing about 1000 medical radiation technicians (MRTs), and district health boards (DHBs) have been negotiating for months over a new contract and the union has put the latest informal offer to its members.

The union hoped to know by about lunchtime what the overall feeling was, Apex spokeswoman Bernadette Gourley told NZPA.

The union was this week continuing its low-level industrial action - such as working to rule and no overtime - but as a gesture of goodwill from Friday's negotiations had not issued any two-week notice for further industrial action, she said.

Last week Apex spent three days in talks with DHBs and identified an error that meant there was $230,000 available to meet its demands.

Apex said the DHBs then offered a higher pay rise instead of the addressing the issues the union had raised, such as time in lieu for weekends, when members spent time doing continuing professional development, retraining and keeping up to date, and also pay parity for sonographers, who carry out ultrasound treatments.

However, it still put the offer to its members.

- NZPA