Public Service Association national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons at a strike last year. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
The union for more health workers joining a major day of strike action on 23 October says they will be walking off the job for the first time out of deep frustration.
Workers covered by the PAKS (Policy, Advisory, Knowledge and Specialist Workers) collective agreement have voted overwhelmingly to strike.
They number about 1700 workers covering areas like business support, communications and procurement.
The Public Service Association (PSA) said critical IT workers, who make sure systems are running all day, every day, were among them.
The union expected the overall numbers taking part in the strike to be historic.
More than 36,000 nurses have already said they would walk off the job.
They'd be joined by 40,000 teachers, 4000 doctors and dentists, and over 11,000 other health workers.
PSA national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said the PAKS workers voted overwhelmingly to join them.
"This group have suffered cuts and the loss of specialist expertise," she said.
"None of these health workers have voted for strike action enthusiastically, they've taken it seriously and they're doing it reluctantly because of lack of progress in collective bargaining."
The PSA said Health New Zealand had offered a 1.5 percent increase from July 2025 and a 2 percent increase in July 2026.
It said members were against the offer and proposed length of the new collective.
"These critical workers are the engine room of the public health system," the PSA said in a statement.
"Workers who ensure nurses, doctors, surgeons and others can provide the quality, timely care patients need."
It said the PAKS workers were from 27 different employers and were paid differently for the same work.
The union claimed Health NZ was not willing to address that inequality and it was not addressed in current negotiations.
Fitzsimons told RNZ there would be impacts on patients but the Public Service Association was working to minimise these.
Health New Zealand responds
Health New Zealand said the planned strikes would affect thousands of patients and their care would be delayed for days before and after.
"Health New Zealand is disappointed that unions have signalled their intention to strike simultaneously on 23 October," it said in a statement.
"Should the strike action go ahead we will have contingency plans in place to ensure the continued delivery of health services both in our hospitals and in community settings."
Health NZ said it was committed to reaching a settlement with staff and avoiding more patient disruption.
It said remaining issues should be resolved through more bargaining and not by strike action.
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