"I hope that the Government was listening today, nurses’ voices were loud and clear," New Zealand Nurses Organisation industrial services manager Glenda Alexander said.
Ms Alexander, once a union organiser in Dunedin, was one of about 400 nurses and supporters who marched from Dunedin Hospital to the Octagon yesterday, where they held a rowdy rally in support of their pay claims.
"It’s never been harder, it’s never been so unsafe, it’s never been so poorly paid ... if I was in Australia, I would be earning three times what I get here, but why should I have to move to another country just to get paid what I’m worth?"
Ms Daniels said the Dunedin hospital emergency department had 26 beds but regularly had 40 to 50 patients."They look at me every time I run past, wanting to be helped, and we can’t do it, we can’t give people the care they deserve."
Ms Alexander, one of the NZNO’s lead negotiators in the pay round, said she wanted to be able to report progress to her fellow nurses, who were prepared for a long fight if need be.
In Queenstown, about 25 nurses marched from Lakes District Hospital to the busy Frankton roundabout about noon while waving flags, holding placards and chanting, “Be fair to those who care”.
The NZNO is seeking a 17% pay increase to catch up with inflation and encourage New Zealand nurses not to migrate, as well as five more days’ sick leave and implementation of already agreed safe staffing protocols.
Southern District Health Board chief executive Chris Fleming said hospitals had been busy but had coped well with the strike, which ended at 7pm.
"I am very grateful to staff for the work in advance of today’s strike," he said.
Debbie Robinson, a nurse in Dunedin Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit, who was among the crowd at the Octagon, said her main concern was the shortage of staffing.
She recalled times when staff shortages were so bad at Dunedin Hospital nurses had to work 16-hour shifts to fill gaps.
Nurses were "burning out’ trying to ensure the under-resourced system did not affect patient care.
She was striking so “there is something to pass on to the next generation of nurses” .
Registered nurse Jack Ringhand, who works at the Dunedin Hospital and performed a song written for the strike, said nurses gave beyond what they were paid for.
"We are a workforce who are at times being exploited. We must be fairly paid and staffed to do our work."
- Mike Houlahan and Sophie Harris
