Wairarapa health worker strike averted

There are 56 PSA members at Wairarapa DHB who will receive the new offers.

A mass healthworker strike is now off the table after an agreement was reached between district health boards and the Public Service Association, which represents the workers.

Some 12,000 members were set to strike on Monday at hospitals around New Zealand, including Wairarapa Hospital, but they have now received an "improved offer" via mediation on five multi employer collective agreements.

Earlier this month, they voted to strike after being offered an "insulting" 0.7 per cent increase per year.

The union's national secretary, Richard Wagstaff, previously said if mediation was not successful, the strike would be escalated.

"Industrial action was a last resort after months of bargaining, and we are pleased sufficient progress has been made that we can take that option off the table."

Bargaining has been going on for months with workers wanting at least a 2 per cent increase as well as movement on issues around professional development and training.

There are 56 PSA members at Wairarapa DHB who will receive the new offers, which are remaining under wraps at the moment, in the coming weeks.

Mr Wagstaff said the offers will be voted on at members' meetings across the country with a recommendation to sign. "We are pleased that, through the mediation process, we managed to negotiate an improved offer from the DHBs.

"This new offer will mean more money in the pocket for our hard-working members, and real progress on some of their other key issues."

He said the DHBs had also agreed to increase engagement on learning and development.

PSA media advisor Asher Goldman said they weren't releasing the details of the offers at this stage, as members hadn't seen them yet.

Mediation was undertaken by both sides in a very professional manner, said Graham Dyer, chairman of the DHBs' Employment Relations Strategy Group and chief executive of Hutt Valley and Wairarapa DHBs.

"Our employees will now be consulted on the settlement and we hope they vote in favour."