May 06, 2021
Nurses betrayed by pay freeze
The Nurses Organisation says nurses feel betrayed by the announcement of a pay freeze for the next three years.
Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku says nurses were prepared for a staggered approach to bringing up their pay rates and they are devastated to now hear public sector workers earning over $60,000 a year will only get increases in exceptional cases.
It comes at a time when Māori nurses, especially those working for iwi and community providers, were hoping for their pay to be brought up to the level of their district health board colleagues, particularly in light of criticism from the Waitangi Tribunal inquiry into health outcomes.
"What we are seeing is inequity is perpetuated for these nurses who are working for their whanau so absolutely it is going to make that gap huger and what it doesn't address is the unintended consequences on a workforce that is already depleted, already exhausted, under-funded and under-recognised," Ms Nuku says.
Copyright © 2021, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com