Northland anaesthetic techs strike over pay, conditions

Whangarei Hospital's anaesthetic technicians walked off the job an hour ago, demanding better pay and conditions. The workers are members of the Apex union which is locked in a dispute with five district health boards. Mediation between the workers and the Northland DHB failed on Tuesday, resulting in Wednesday's 24-hour strike. Whangarei Hospital chief executive Nick Chamberlain says it's the last place that needs a strike and Apex national secretary Dr Deborah Powell, who lives in Whangarei, should know that.