Hospital staff protest in street over pay

MARTIN DE RUYTER/Nelson Mail

WAVE OF ANGER: Nelson Hospital clerical staff Lisa Harmon, left, and Christine Kemp protest in Waimea Rd with colleagues at the hospital.

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Waimea Rd was the scene of a cacophony of horn blasts from passing motorists as administration staff from Nelson Hospital went on strike to demand pay equity with their North Island counterparts yesterday.

About 40 administration and clerical workers joined about 800 of their South Island colleagues in taking to the street for an hour in the morning, protesting over the pay differential between North Island and South Island workers.

Clerical staff working for North Island district health boards have a bottom pay rate of $30,500, while those in the South Island receive $27,641, paid 78 cents above the hourly minimum wage.

Nelson hospital administrator Helen Bruce said all her colleagues worked extremely hard, and often did overtime.

"I don't think we get the respect for the work that we do and the amount we have to do.

"I think we all feel the same. We just want a little respect," she said.

Surgical secretary Ellen Hawkins said those protesting put in long hours for their patients, but they were willing to sacrifice some pay to show they deserved a boost in their income.

"With the amount of wages we get, we usually need all of it. To come out here and protest and forego an hour of wages ... the pittance that it is."

Another worker said the low pay rates could almost be seen as gender discrimination, because it was mainly women who worked in hospital administration positions.

A spokeswoman for Nelson Hospital said it had contingency plans in place for yesterday's strike and disruption was minimal.

The staff previously walked off the job for an hour last Friday.

Public Service Association organiser Mike Cunliffe said notice had been lodged with the district health board that further strike action could be taken at any stage during the week, but the workers would definitely be striking for three hours this Friday, joining a rally in support of low-paid workers at 1903 Square at the top of Trafalgar St.

Nationally, more than 2700 hospital service workers around New Zealand, including Nelson members of the Service and Food Workers Union, will also strike on Friday over stalled wage negotiations.

They will take part in rallies around the country, including the Nelson one.

Food services workers, orderlies, cleaners and security staff will walk off the job for four hours from 11am.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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