The letter of support for the NZNO members of the DHB Sector below was sent to their Industrial Advisor David Wait on 4 May 2021, for the attention of the members and their bargaining team.
Tēnā koutou David me ngā mema o tō koutou uniana,
We write to you as a group of PSA union delegates at Capital & Coast DHB. Please feel free to share this letter.
We are your colleagues, who work alongside you in the DHB Sector. We know from personal experience the difference nurses make to the lives of health consumers, tāngata whaiora and to our communities.
We see your unsafe workloads, under-staffing and stress. We’re affected by it too.
So when the “April Fool’s Day” offer was released, we shared your dismay. In a very real sense, our fortunes are entwined with yours.
When DHB spokesperson Dale Oliff tried to justify it as “reasonable in the context of other public and health sector settlements”, we were angry not only because it showed how little the DHBs thought of you, but because she was obviously talking about our pending offers as well.
As you now undertake a strike ballot and nationwide members’ meetings, we cannot sit silently on the sidelines.
We applaud your decision to reject the DHB offer. We encourage you to push hard for a settlement that reflects your value. As you push, know that we are with you. If push comes to shove we pledge you our support.
Nō reira, kia kaha, kia maia, kia manawanui! Be strong, be brave, be stout hearted!
Nā mātou noa, nā
PSA Delegates Committee
Mental Health, Addictions & Intellectual Disability Service
Grant Brookes | Nurse & Trade Unionist 