Nurses call off strike after P.M.’s meetings

Press, 14 December 1985, Page 1

Nurses call off strike after P.M.’s meetings

Strike action planned by nurses throughout New Zealand next week has been called off.

The national executive of the Nurses’ Association announced last evening that the three-day strike, from December 17, had been cancelled, and that wage talks would resume next week under the industrial mediator, Mr Maurice Teen.

The association’s executive director, Miss Patricia Carroll, said that the decision was made after further negotiations had been agreed to this week. “The intervention of the Prime Minister, Mr Lange, on Tuesday was crucial,” she said. “We are now confident that progress will be made in negotiations. We are only sorry that nurses had to resort to such desperate measures before someone actually listened.” Miss Carroll said public support for nurses in the last week had been overwhelming, and demonstrated the recognition people had for their work. The association’s president, Mrs Jocelyn Keith, said the intervention of Mr Lange had given the nurses’ claims the importance they

deserved. “This time we think we will be listened to seriously,” she said. “The Prime Minister’s intervention showed how serious the situation was, and ensured we will get more than the scant attention paid to us before.”

From Auckland, the Minister of Health, Dr Bassett, said he obviously was pleased with the decision, but would not comment further.

The chairman of the Christchurch Hospital Board, Mr Tom Grigg, said he was not surprised at the decision.

“We needed to get back to the negotiating table,” he said. “I am pleased that reason has prevailed.” Mr Grigg said that people who had had surgery or treatment cancelled because of the proposed strike should get in touch with the hospital, as it should be possible now to continue all treatment as originally planned. The nurses gave notice of industrial action to protest

against a pay offer which the Government says represents rises of between 28 per cent and 40 per cent, out which the association says is worth only 4 to 8 per cent.

The nurses had filed a claim for increases of between 22 and 42 per cent, on top of the State general adjustment of 15.5 per cent The Government offer in-

eludes the adjustment. The industrial action would have been the first in the association’s 76-year his-

tory. The association’s southern regional officer, Mrs Edna Thomas, said she was hoping the strike would be called off.

“I am very pleased,” she said. “It has been a particularly stressful time for nurses; industrial action is foreign to our profession.” The decision not to strike came after a meeting between Mr Lange and Mr Teen in Auckland yesterday morning. The association believes Mr Teen has given a report bp the issue to the Government.