Tēnā koe Member,
Last night in collective agreement negotiations between Te Whatu Ora and NZNO, a new offer was received from Te Whatu Ora.
This is your collective agreement and at every stage of this process it has been up to members to collectively decide on next steps. This email provides information about the member decision-making processes that will shortly get underway for this new collective agreement offer from Te Whatu Ora and how this relates to other current matters.
Download the collective agreement offer.
Note that we see this as an offer only, and not a terms of settlement, as there are still significant differences between what we have claimed and what is being offered (around issues such as pay, safe staffing and health and safety).
We will hold online meetings next week and have resources available that will help clarify the offer and inform your decision-making. Information about these will be provided when confirmed.
Several member decision-making processes are now underway.
Collective agreement strike ballot
In meetings in late-June members voted overwhelmingly to launch a strike ballot. The purpose of a strike would be to put pressure on Te Whatu Ora to come back with a better offer in collective agreement bargaining. After being open for just over a week the strike ballot will close tomorrow 19 July at midday, and members will be informed of the result that afternoon.
Collective agreement ratification ballot
As Te Whatu Ora has made an improved offer in collective bargaining, it is appropriate that members consider and vote on it. A vote on this new offer will be held from 1-7 August.
If the outcome of the current strike ballot is in favour of the 9 August strike, but the outcome of the subsequent collective agreement ratification ballot is to accept the Te Whatu Ora’s offer for a new collective agreement, the strike will not continue and the new collective agreement will come into force.
If members vote against Te Whatu Ora’s offer for a new collective agreement the strike on 9/10 August will go ahead and the bargaining for a new collective agreement will continue. We will inform members of the outcome of the Pay Equity ballot prior to commencing the ratification process for the collective agreement.
Pay Equity ratification vote
Next week Te Whatu Ora employees will vote on whether or not to accept the Pay Equity proposal that arose from mediation between Te Whatu Ora, NZNO and the PSA.
See our recent email about this.
The Pay Equity ballot, which will be open from 24-31 July, is a completely separate matter from the collective agreement negotiations. However, the outcome of the vote on Pay Equity will have implications in terms of wage rates in the collective agreement. Therefore, for information purposes, it is important for members to know the outcome of their collective decision-making on this matter before starting the collective agreement ballot.
Timeline
18 July – Collective agreement offer released to members
19 July – Collective agreement strike ballot closes at midday
24 July – Collective agreement strike notice issued to Te Whatu Ora if members vote to strike
Week of 24 July – Member meetings and resources to clarify the Te Whatu Ora collective agreement offer
24 July – Pay Equity ratification vote opens
31 July – Pay Equity ratification vote closes
1 August – Collective agreement ratification vote opens
7 August – Collective agreement ratification vote closes
7 August – Members and Te Whatu Ora advised whether the strike notice remains in place or is withdrawn depending on the outcome of the collective agreement ratification vote.
9 August – Proposed strike day (7am 9 August – 7am 10 August)
We will continue to update you as these matters progress and details become firmer. It is important that you are well-informed so you can make the best decisions when voting on these important matters.
Ngā mihi,
Paul Goulter, Chief Executive
NZNO Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa