‘We respect the important role of midwives and have made a significant offer’
Midwives covered by MERAS (Midwifery Employee Representation & Advisory Service) are striking for two hours, twice a day until 5 December, over an ongoing pay dispute.
Hospitals have contingency plans in place to ensure women, their babies and families have the care they need, while they’re working to find a settlement, according to District Health Boards (DHB) spokesperson Jim Green.
“Negotiations with MERAS have been ongoing for over a year – we respect the important role of midwives and have made a significant offer,” said Green.
“The offer they’ve turned down is 9% over the next 18 months plus two pay step increases and a lump sum payment. It is the same increase offered to other midwives, but they’re asking significantly more.”
Green said there are many parts to the MERAS proposal which would go well outside the funding DHBs have to settle these negotiations.
DHBs and MERAS have agreed on a process for investigating the Midwives’ pay equity claim and any outcome will be implemented from 31 December 2019.
“Work is also underway at a sector level looking at staffing levels – these are the appropriate places to discuss these workforce issues,” said Green.
“In the meantime, we’ve made an excellent offer that that would deliver a significant pay rise and we’d urge MERAS to come back to talks.
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Moreover, Council of Trade Unions president Richard Wagstaff said that he was disappointed Midwifery Employee Representation & Advisory Service (MERAS) union members in District Health Boards (DHBs) have had to resort to industrial action, and urged for movement from DHBs.
“Midwives are critical for the safe entry into the world of our littlest New Zealanders, and for all expectant parents,” said Wagstaff.
“How we value the pair of hands that brings babies into the world, and the people that nurture the development of parents says everything about what we choose to prioritise as a society.
“Nobody wants a drawn out dispute in midwifery care. The DHBs have an opportunity now to come back to negotiations with a deal that better reflects midwives’ worth, without causing further disruption for new parents and babies.
“I urge them to do this swiftly to reassure parents that further industrial action won’t be needed to resolve this dispute.”