Strike by up to 500 Canterbury DHB workers ends

Up to 500 Canterbury District Health Board workers were starting to return to their jobs today after a five-day strike in support of a 30 per cent pay rise.

National Union of Public Employees (Nupe) spokesman Martin Cooney said morale among the striking workers, as they returned after the longest strike anyone could remember at the health board, remained "remarkably high".

The strike was ending with the Saturday morning shift changeover at board hospitals, he said.

It had been called to get a meaningful pay offer for all workers particularly support staff such as clerical, cleaners, orderlies, telephonists, maintenance, and information services.

Nupe members had marked the final 24 hours of the strike with a march and rally yesterday to the health board headquarters, where negotiators had at least been invited to talk to senior board managers, Mr Cooney said.

The health workers believed they had made a statement to the board that they would back their claim for a 30 per cent catch-up with appropriate action.

- NZPA