Home support nurses employed by Access Home Health get paid less than nurses employed by Te Whatu Ora. (file image) Photo: 123RF
Home support nurses across the country are on strike for better pay after more than a year of bargaining with their employer.
About 150 New Zealand Nurses Organisation workers employed at Access Home Health will strike from 8am-5pm Monday.
NZNO delegate Linda Ewbank said with the rising cost of living, nurses needed better pay to support themselves and their families.
"This strike is really about the workers getting paid a fair wage. Quite frankly we're asking for a cost-of-living increase, but their offer is not even close to that.
"Unless the employer is prepared to take its responsibility of supporting staff properly strike action is our only option."
Ewbank said nurses who had the same training, but worked for Te Whatu Ora or who had gone overseas, earned a lot more.
While the strike would have some impact, Ewbank said work would not stop and nobody would be "left in the lurch".
"We care so much about the work we do but we're out there because we need progress, especially if we want to retain the staff we have."
Ewbank said she hoped the strike would result in more negotiations between Access Home Health and NZNO.
Pickets would take place outside Access offices across the country on Monday.
Access Home Health has been approached for comment.
