Parties involved are set to talk about a new offer next week
The planned strikes of 10,000 health workers in New Zealand have been called off on Thursday following a ruling from the Employment Court.
The strikes were originally scheduled for 24 hours on March 4 and March 18, where participants include 70 groups of workers from supplies technicians, COVID-19 contact tracers, laboratory workers responsible for COVID-19 tests, among others.
The District Health Boards (DHB) went to court to seek an injunction to halt the planned action, citing the surge of COVID-19 cases and how talks on pay equity should not be bundled up with pay talks.
And in a decision released on Thursday, Judge Bruce Corkill sided with the DHBs. He said the strikes were considered illegal because of its "dominant motive" being equal pay claim instead of bargaining for new collective agreements.
"The dominant reason for the proposed strike relates to the equal pay claim that has been brought. On that basis, the strikes must be regarded as illegal for present purposes," Corkill said in the decision.
He also cited the current pandemic situation, where DHB employees are already stretched thin because of high COVID-19 cases. The strike would make them face even further pressure, according to the court.
In addition, the parties are also scheduled to attend facilitation with the Employment Relations Authority next week, which the judge saying it will provide a "meaningful avenue for the advancing of the bargaining issues between the parties."
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Commenting on the ruling, Public Service Association (PSA) organiser Will Matthews said they are angry at the DHBs for going straight to court instead of talking to their staff about fair pay.
"We're angry that 10,000 workers have to go back to work tomorrow where they’re going to keep being exhausted, overworked, underpaid and understaffed," he said as quoted by Stuff.
The ruling came out right after the PSA said it is calling off the strike action in Auckland DHB, Waitemata DHB, and Counties Manukau DHB after the DHBs said they cannot guarantee patient safety if the walk out pushes through.
"We implore the DHBs to recognise the ongoing hard work and sacrifice of our members by coming up with a new offer that will give them fair pay and equal treatment," said PSA organiser Will Matthews in the statement.
He added that they look forward on the facilitation next week, where they are expecting a new offer from DHBs that will give them fair pay and equal treatment.
