Health

Workers are still left wondering whether National will remove the cap on GP fees,” Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly said today.

“Cheaper doctor visits and prescriptions are very popular policies for workers.  About a million people today receive low-cost primary health care, including free doctor visits for under-sixes.”

"Spotless Services’ refusal to pay its hospitals workers rates that have been agreed to in negotiation with the union is completely dishonourable and outrageous,” Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly said today.

"Hospital kitchen staff, orderlies and cleaners are some of the poorest paid workers in the country."

The Council of Trade Unions said a quick resolution to the senior doctors pay dispute was needed, following a majority decision by members of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists in favour of industrial action.

“Aged Care workers around the country today will be calling on DHBs and government to fix up processes in the contracting of aged care services so that progress on low wages in the sector can continue to be made,” Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly said today.

“What a shame that the first big movement we have seen on boosting the wages of aged care workers has been met by court action,” CTU president Helen Kelly said today.

“The settlement announced yesterday between District Health Boards and the NZNO is a reflection on the value that the public hold in the work of nurses, midwifes and health-care assistants in our public health system,” CTU president Ross Wilson said today.

Unions in aged care are welcoming recently completed negotiations with employers over passing on government funding to boost the low wages of workers in aged care, but are disappointed by the legal action some employer groups have initiated.

“Whether District Health Boards like it or not senior medical specialists are in an international market and retention should be a key strategic issue in the negotiations over their collective agreement,” CTU president Ross Wilson said today.

"Spotless Services should never have dragged the chain over government funding that was not theirs to hold out on, and this was a completely unnecessary lockout," CTU president Ross Wilson said today.

“If public hospitals and health services are to continue to offer an accessible, quality and highly regarded service they must be able to recruit and retain senior doctors,” CTU president Ross Wilson said today.