Hospital staff wait five months for agreed pay rise to kick in
Hospital support staff in New Zealand are facing a five-month delay in receiving an agreed-upon pay increase due to a backlog of collective agreements at Health New Zealand. The union representing the workers has criticized the delay, noting that many staff members earn below the living wage.
Why it matters
This situation underscores the administrative challenges in public health systems and the financial strain on essential low-wage workers during inflationary periods.
Union E tū says hospital support staff are facing a five-month wait for an agreed pay increase.
The agreed 2.5 percent pay increase and $1000 lump sum payment would not reach workers' pockets until the end of January next year.
Meanwhile, Health New Zealand said it had a backlog of collective agreements it was working to implement.
E tū director Finn O'Dwyer-Cunliffe told RNZ staff expected to see the pay increase in their pockets before Christmas.
"It's a tough pill to swallow for some of the lowest paid workers in the public health system in New Zealand."
He said some of the support staff were earning below the Living Wage, which was currently $29.90 per hour.
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