The strike is set for Friday 28 November. Photo: RNZ/Samuel Rillstone
Another 5200 health workers will walk off the job at the end of the month, the public sector union says, bringing the total number on strike to about 16,700.
The Public Service Association said more than 3500 mental health nurses and assistants and public health nurses, plus 1700 policy, advisory, knowledge and specialist workers (PAKS) - who provide vital support for health care - have voted to strike on Friday 28 November.
The strike was to support claims for safe staffing and a pay rise that kept pace with the cost of living, national secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi, Fleur Fitzsimons said.
The PSA said these members would join 11,500 allied health workers, including physiotherapists, social workers and technicians, who have also voted to strike on 28 November, after mediation failed.
Fleur Fitzsimons. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
"These health workers are reluctantly taking strike action. They care deeply about their patients and their work and will ensure life preserving services continue. But they feel they have no choice when their concerns are not responded to," Fitzsimons said.
"The pay offers for the three collectives still doesn't keep pace with inflation - they are effectively a pay cut. Meanwhile, there are simply not enough health workers to provide the level of care New Zealanders need."
Mental health nurses and assistants and public health nurses would have another round of mediation on Friday 14 November, and the PAKS collective on Tuesday 25 November.
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