Nearly 12,000 unionised health workers have voted in favour of taking industrial action, after they were offered an "insulting" pay increase, the Public Service Association says.

State Services Minister Jonathan Coleman says he is not happy about a cash bonus for unionised parliamentary staff, but can do nothing about it.

For years government departments have been running a scam for the unions. The amounts involved total in the millions.

The agency in charge of parliamentary staff has agreed to a cash bonus for union members, despite John Key's National Party previously denouncing such deals as discriminatory.

An "insurmountable" lack of radiologists has forced the Southern District Health Board to relinquish the southern breast-screening service from the middle of next year, the board announced yesterday.

The jobs of 139 health and safety inspectors will be disestablished and staff made to reapply for the positions.

Buddy Mikaere imagines a Waitangi Day that will mean something special to all New Zealanders.

Health workers have presented management of a mental health facility with a vote of no confidence after hundreds of assaults by patients.

The Government is being accused of taking a slash and burn approach to spending after Finance Minister Bill English signalled cuts to public services and new figures showed substantial job losses in the sector.

Meat inspectors at a Wanganui plant say they have to meet their union representative on a public road after being denied a meeting at the workplace.