Allied health workers have started industrial action leading up to a 24-hour strike on May 16.

PSA organiser Will Mathews says as of this morning up to 10,000 health workers are working to rule.

That meant the workers, including anaesthetic technicians, oral health therapists and alcohol and drug clinicians, won’t do overtime and will take all scheduled breaks.

He says after mediation a week and a half ago, members are still waiting for district health boards to table an offer in line with recommendations from the Employment Relations Authority.

“There’s been a lot of talk about how valued health workers and there has not been any willingness to follow that up with a fair pay offer and we have had all these restrictions put in place like pay restraints that have completely prevented us from making progress on this for 18 months,” Mr Mathews says.

He says the Australian health agencies are recruiting workers with offers of tens of thousands of dollars more than they earning in New Zealand right now.