Workplace Relations Updates: New Zealand ER Strikes & Pay Disputes
Read on for a summary of ER events.
To view the full article click on the title
3 Dec
Negotiations between the Christchurch Airport and Christchurch Airport Firefighters for a new three-year collective agreement have stalled. Christchurch Airport Firefighters have voted to go on strike from Wednesday 18th December – their action includes refusal to carry out non-core duties over a 21 day period. The PSA states that the airport company’s pay offer does not reflect inflation or the firefighters’ contributions.
Fred A – The dispute is about money! Employees want inflation or better increase on the basis that CHC Airports company is allegedly making substantial profits.
Around 36,000 nurses, midwives, and healthcare assistants are walking off the job for eight hours with life-preserving services continuing. The action follows stalled negotiations for the new Collective agreement. The Nurses Organisation criticizes Te Whatu Ora’s proposed wage increases, which they argue do not keep pace with inflation, and expresses concern over the potential impact on staffing and patient care.
Te Whatu Ora has limited bargaining parameters to 1% of total employee costs, resulting in a proposed wage increase of 0.5% in the first year and up to 1% in the second.
Fred A – the money theme continues. The wage offer is well below inflation rate.
6 Dec
Disability support provider Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau Trust has been criticized for locking out workers in response to strike action just weeks before Christmas. NZCTU have also argued that the lockout was illegal due to insufficient notice and lack of outlined negotiating demands.
Fred A – A messy, nasty dispute culminating in a lock-out pre-Christmas.
9 Dec
The government has announced plans to reintroduce pay deductions for partial strikes. Employers were first banned from reducing workers’ pay for such actions in 2018. Under the proposed changes, deductions could be made in proportion to the time not worked or set at a fixed rate of 10% of the employee’s wage.
Fred A – Not unexpected from a conservative government! Has the potential for getting very messy when employers calculate the pay deduction.
10 Dec
Healthcare workers continue strike action as the dispute between the Nurses Organisation (NZNO) and Health NZ (HNZ) over pay and staffing remains unresolved. Both sides dispute the impact of the previous strike, with NZNO claiming significant disruption while HNZ asserts it helped refine contingency plans when more strikes take place. The rolling strikes comes after a nationwide strike on December 3 where 36,000 nurses walked off the job for eight hours.
Fred A – Ongoing dispute about staffing levels and low pay offer.
Additional Reading: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/nurses-begin-rolling-strikes-in-auckland-today/VMS4XUY6ZVHVTPGVFO2O2DWJBE/?utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=nzh_fb&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwY2xjawHIC9BleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHdXPLdbQxgVGpd-sDd2k2d8ZOtTdJkjLgyJf6_o8yTXtRYnxXMj4qIKx#google_vignette
New Zealand Post is proposing to cease individual letterbox deliveries, replacing them with communal collection points, a move that could result in the loss of approximately 700 postal worker positions. The Postal Workers Union has strongly criticized this plan, expressing concerns over potential job losses and the impact on service accessibility for customers
Fred A – Is it the end of the postie? Not quite yet, but give it a few more years and all deliveries will be via private orgs.
12 Dec
Military personnel have had their Christmas and New Year leave cancelled to cover for striking civilian staff. Defence Minister Judith Collins authorized uniformed personnel to fill these roles, a move the Mission Homefront group calls unprecedented and detrimental to morale.
The NZDF stated around 50 personnel are covering camp and base security duties through January, with efforts made to minimize disruption to leave. PSA union and NZDF have sought facilitation, with the PSA urging a fair pay offer.
Fred A – Again, its all about the poor wage offer!
Health New Zealand (HNZ) is set to announce further job cuts, affecting hundreds of roles across procurement, planning, and funding units. This follows earlier proposals impacting over 1,000 data and digital positions, as well as roles in Public Health, Hauora Māori, and Pacific Health.
Public Sector cuts to date (12 December 2024)
9520
Fred A – The Public Sector and specifically Health continues to be shredded. The ongoing dismantling of the public health service should be of concern for NZ. It seems the path to privatisation has been set in motion.
16 Dec
WorkSafe staff will protest on Tuesday against the organization’s decision to cut 54 more roles, including the disestablishment of the health team. This follows 113 job losses in November 2023, bringing the total cuts to nearly 170 in the past year.
Fred A – More jobs slashed!
Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand has proposed cutting approximately 300 more roles, adding pressure to an already strained health system. This follows a November proposal to axe 1,500 roles in response to government funding cuts.
The latest proposals affect around 200 positions in the Planning, Funding & Outcomes unit, responsible for service redesign, procurement, and stakeholder relations, and 92 roles in the Procurement Supply Chain and Health Technology Management unit.
Fred A – Jobs go!
17 Dec
Thousands of Union Members at MBIE (Ministry of Business and Innovation) have voted to take industrial action after the recent 0% percent pay offer.
The action will include not be undertaking unpaid essential or non-essential work, and will include coordinated rest breaks.
Fred A – No surprise – the people will be angry when offered a whopping 0% wage increase!
Additional Reading:
https://www.psa.org.nz/our-voice/zero-pay-offer-triggers-strike-action-by-mbie-staff/
The minimum wage has increased 1.5% to $23.50 per hour.
Starting 18 December Christchurch Airport Firefighters will begin strike action. Negotiations for the new Collective agreement have been ongoing since August, workers calling for a fiar pay offer that respects their critical role.
The industrial action includes a ban on undertaking various duties including:
– Undertaking overtime unless before or after a rostered shift
– Trial evacuations
– Spill reporting
– Recording of safety patrols, runway inspections, vehicle checks and incident reports
– Supporting wildlife staff
30 Dec
About 100 immigration border staff will strike on New Year’s Eve over a pay dispute, following the government’s refusal to offer a pay raise. The action involves staff refusing unpaid work and coordinating rest breaks. This action will be ongoing until January 20.
This follows earlier strikes by 3,000 MBIE union members.
Fred A – Happy New Year!
Additional Reading:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/537838/immigration-border-staff-to-strike-on-new-year-s-eve
Disclaimer: Fred A’s comments are solely his personal opinion and should not be viewed as factual or as an authoritative commentary in regard to any published article, individual and organisation.
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Image Credit/ Photo: Image by FIRST Union
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