Staff at Gisborne's TLab and other sites around the country will strike on February 6 and 7 after pay equity talks with Medlab Central/Tlab failed. Photo / Wynsley Wrigley
Staff at Gisborne's TLab and other sites around the country will strike on February 6 and 7 after pay equity talks with Medlab Central/Tlab failed. Photo / Wynsley Wrigley
TLab staff in Gisborne and colleagues across the country will strike early next month after pay parity negotiations failed.
Medical lab workers and members of Apex (Association of Professional and Executive Employees) – a specialist union for allied, scientific and technical employees in New Zealand – voted to strike on February 5 and 7 after bargaining claims for pay parity were rejected in negotiations with Awanui Labs, Pathlab Ltd and Medlab Central/TLab.
Members involved in the vote are based in Gisborne, Whangārei, Taranaki, Waikato, Tauranga, Whakatāne, Rotorua, Palmerston North, Whanganui, Hawke’s Bay, Wellington and the South Island.
The TLab based at Gisborne Hospital provides laboratory services to community and hospital patients.
Its employees include biochemists and services conducted on-site include microbiology, clinical biochemistry, haematology and transfusion services, according to Health NZ.
The Apex union says medical laboratory workers employed in these labs are paid on average 28% to 32% less than their Health NZ Te Whatu Ora (public health system) counterparts, despite performing the same work.
A Gisborne Apex delegate told the Gisborne Herald that the February strike “will be a big effort”.
“It’s really important to us,” she said. “We are really struggling with the workload here and insufficient staff.”
Apex advocate Sam Heimsath said the message from members was simple – “same work, same pay”.
Apex had raised a claim for pay parity in each set of bargaining to rectify the significant wage rate disadvantage and enable the rebuilding of struggling medical laboratory services.
“The ongoing wage gap has created an untenable recruitment and retention environment for privately owned laboratories,” Heimsath said.
“As a result, a number of members are working unsafely, burning out and ultimately exiting the sector.
“This vicious cycle threatens the sustainable provision of hospital and community diagnostic services in this country”.
Medlab Central/TLab was approached for comment. – Story by Wynsley Wrigley
Dana Kirkpatrick seeking youth MP for East Coast
East Coast MP Dana Kirkpatrick has put the call out for a young person to represent the community in the 11th Youth Parliament in 2025.
The Youth MP will take part in a four-month programme from April to August.
“The 11th Youth Parliament is happening in 2025 and I’m looking for a passionate, driven young person aged 16 to 18 to represent our community in Parliament,” Kirkpatrick said in a statement.
“You will engage with our community, connect with other like-minded youth MPs and prepare to make your voice heard at the two-day Youth Parliament event in Wellington.”
Kirkpatrick will run an information session in Gisborne and others in Eastern Bay of Plenty in February and asks people interested in signing up or finding out more to email her at Dana.Kirkpatrickmp@Parliament.govt.nz
“Or if you want to dive right in, then send me a short video – three minutes maximum – and tell me why you should be the youth MP for East Coast.
“Tell me why you are passionate about representing our community and the issues that are important.
“This is the chance to develop leadership skills, grow confidence and help shape the future of New Zealand.”
The sister ship to Sister Nova, the smaller Silver Muse (pictured), brought more than 500 passengers to Gisborne in mid-November. She calls back again on February 4. Photo / Murray Robertson
‘Environmentally friendly’ cruise ship on first Gisborne visit
Gisborne’s cruise season continues on Friday with a maiden visit by the “environmentally friendly” Silver Nova.
The ship was scheduled to visit the region mid-December but it was cancelled as sea conditions were not suitable to anchor.
Conditions for Friday “look good”, a shipping agent told the Gisborne Herald yesterday.
The Silver Nova has a passenger capacity of 728 and is the sister ship to the Silver Muse, which visited Gisborne earlier in the season.
“Many of the 650 passengers on board now will come ashore,” the shipping agent said.
“A busy programme of excursions has been organised for them.”
At 244 metres in length and with a gross tonnage of 54,700, the luxury liner Silver Nova was launched in 2023 and is the 12th ship in service with Silversea Cruises.
“Nova is the first ship in the company’s new Evolution class and is designed with the intent of environmentally friendly cruising,” the company says online.
“The ship features hybrid technology that enables the ship to achieve a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and is projected to achieve an Energy Efficiency Design Index rating approximately 25% better than applicable International Maritime Organisation requirements.”
The Seabourn Quest makes her maiden visit here on Sunday. – Story by Murray Robertson
