Council of Trade Unions President Richard Wagstaff said today 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. 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.”
