'This is a significant step toward a fairer future for healthcare'
Thousands of health workers across Te Whatu Ora will get roughly a 20% salary increase after they voted to accept a new pay equity settlement.
According to the Public Service Association (PSA), 99% of Allied, Public Health, Scientific and Technical workers voted to accept the settlement.
It is set to lift the wages for the majority of around 16,000 employees by 20%, according to the PSA. It also means they will get an interim pay adjustment backdated to November 30, 2022, as well as a lump sum payment of up to $10,000.
Over 120 roles will benefit from the settlement, including social workers, hospital dental assistants, and sterile sciences technicians.
'Fairer future'
The PSA and Te Whatu Ora lauded the development for thousands of workers, underscoring its impact on historically undervalued roles.
"This is a significant step toward a fairer future for healthcare where everyone's work is valued for what it's worth," said PSA National Health Lead Sue McCullough in a statement.
Margie Apa, chief executive of Te Whatu Ora, also recognised that these employees deliver vital care in New Zealand's health system.
"They are experts across a range of professions, including direct care, diagnostic procedures, and making sure safety of care is assured," Apa said in a statement.
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According to the chief executive, the recent settlement is a testament that addressing gender pay discrimination is a "key priority."
Early this month, hospital midwives also accepted a pay equity settlement that will grant them "significant increases."
"These settlements reflect the efforts of Te Whatu Ora and the unions over several years to progress the pay equity process," Apa said.
Meanwhile, the PSA pointed out that pay equity claims for 65,000 care and support workers remain unresolved.
"The new government must continue unsettled pay equity processes with haste to ensure all health workers are paid fairly," McCullough said.