'Bad faith' hit doctor pay rate

Ian Powell.
Ian Powell.
"Bad faith tactics" before last year’s junior doctors’ strike meant some senior doctors claimed less than they might have for providing cover, their union has told members  before the next strike.

Junior doctors will go on strike on January 17 for 72 hours as the long-running dispute over safe working hours grinds on.

Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) executive director Ian Powell told members the  strike was likely to involve more junior doctors than last time.

"I am not commenting on the specifics of this industrial dispute aside from noting that the Resident Doctors’ Association’s membership has reportedly increased."

Before October’s 48-hour strike, DHBs approached senior doctors individually over payment for additional cover after talks with their union broke down.

"The challenge for ASMS and senior medical officers now is that the bad-faith tactics of DHBs in the lead-up to the first strike appear to have had the desired effect: some members claimed nothing; others the lower DHB rates; others the 2008 rates, while some claimed the ASMS recommended rates," Mr Powell told members.

"The DHBs’ position in the lead-up to the first ... strike has forced ASMS to be proactive in providing advice in advance of any agreement being reached with the DHBs. 

"ASMS is receptive to negotiations with DHBs, preferably nationally, or alternatively with individual DHBs. 

"We are aware that a number of chief executives are uncomfortable with their position last time but whether they are a minority or not remains to be seen."

The union’s suggested hourly pay rate for doctors who work extra hours during the strike is $568.

A DHBs’ spokesman contacted for comment did not respond.

eileen.goodwin@odt.co.nz

Comments

Why does one union provide cover for the striking union?

 

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