Kia ora Member,

Your bargaining team entered bargaining with Te Whatu Ora late last week with a clear direction from members - to continue bargaining and campaigning around all member claims, among them:

• A cost of living increase;

• Staffing which ensures patient and staff safety;

• Claims related to te Tiriti obligations;

• Additional increases for those in designated senior roles.

Ahead of the bargaining, senior Te Whatu Ora and public service staff had advised that there would be a new, improved offer and that they wanted to return to bargaining in good faith.

Having clarified Te Whatu Ora’s bargaining position ahead of member meetings we expected the new and improved offer would be an improvement on the position reported back to members in the last round of meetings.

Te Whatu Ora did not present a new or improved offer, or significantly change their position.

Te Whatu Ora’s current position is a pay offer which would be a pay cut in real terms, no guarantees that staff identified as necessary through the CCDM calculations would be employed, and changes to the CCDM methodology which NZNO believes undermine the programme.

Your bargaining team took a firm approach, making it clear to Te Whatu Ora that such a position was unacceptable.

As we prepare for the next bargaining session on 5 and 6 March, we must also look ahead to what might be necessary to move things along.

Ngā mihi,

Paul Goulter, Chief Executive
Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa NZNO