KEY POINTS:
Radiographers across the country are to stage their longest strike action to date.
About 250 radiographers at seven district health boards are walking off the job from November 10 to November 14 to protest stalled contract negotiations.
The radiographers are seeking pay parity with their peers at 14 other District Health Boards.
Association of Professionals and Executive Employees (Apex) national secretary Deborah Powell said the decision to strike came after a mediated settlement was reached with the District Health Board negotiating team last month, but then vetoed by DHB chief executives.
"The DHB negotiating team appears to have no authority to negotiate a settlement which has called into question the entire negotiating process," Ms Powell said.
"This is frustrating and has led to the negotiation process being drawn out over a long period of time."
It would be the fourth time the radiographers had taken industrial action this year, with previous strikes lasting up to three days.
"The decision to strike has not been taken lightly. While this strike will obviously disrupt hospital services in the affected areas, our members deserve to be paid equally and treated fairly," Ms Powell said.
"We have had a significant amount of public support on this issue and are disappointed that we have been forced to take industrial action to make ourselves heard."
Unequal pay was causing labour shortages and putting patients at risk, Ms Powell said.
The radiographers were striking in the Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Rotorua, Hutt Valley, Canterbury, Otago and Southland.
- NZPA
