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Employment Minister Willie Jackson says he's surprised and disappointed nurses have opted for strike action despite the district health boards upping their offer.
A majority of Nurses Organisation members voted to down tools for 24 hours from 7am Thursday despite a recommendation from the union that they accept the imnproved offer, which included a lump sum of up to $2000, three 3 per cent pay rises for all members, and $38 million in funding for DHBs to hire about 500 new nurses to address staffing issues.
Mr Jackson says the government isn't giving up trying to find a solution.
"The kōrero has to continue. We might be able to get there yet, but I'm really proud of what we've done as a Government in responding to the nurses and the claims and I'm so surprised they would look to strike now and did nothing in terms of a previous Government that did nothing for them," he says.
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