Strike triggers hospital clash

Both sides in a Whangarei Hospital pay dispute are accusing the other of breaching good faith.

Hospital sonographers walked off the job for 10 days on Saturday, claiming they are paid a third less than counterparts in Auckland - $50,000 a year against $75,000.

Northland Health said both parties were in mediation when the seven sonographers - technologists who use ultra-sound scanners - decided to take industrial action.

But the union representing the seven says the health board had refused to settle, even though the sonographers had agreed to work within the health board's budget.

The secretary of the Association of Professional and Executive Employees, Deborah Powell, said the union had deferred any notice of a strike until after mediation talks failed.

The union was disappointed that it could put forward an offer that was within the board's budget and still not get a settlement.

The union wants a staggered pay increase over two years.

A Northland DHB spokeswoman, Alison Lees, said the board was prepared to negotiate, but the sonographers needed to be at work.

- NZPA