Dunedin resident medical officer Bill Lu said the strike — the third by the New Zealand Resident Doctors Association (NZRDA) this month — pushed back against "insufficient" proposed pay increases of 3% for some specialties.
The NZRDA is not the only union representing health workers taking industrial action today. More than 290 lab workers, scientists, technicians, and administrators at the New Zealand Blood Service (NZBS) are also striking after stalled negotiations.
Dr Lu, who is also the executive secretary and treasurer of the NZRDA, said pickets held outside Dunedin Hospital yesterday would continue today.
The 49-hour strike would end at 8am tomorrow.
Earlier this week the union made some progress with employers Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora (HNZ), facilitated by the Employment Relations Authority, but not enough to settle the bargaining.
A major step forward was the removal of potential pay cuts for some vulnerable professions, Dr Lu said.
Previously areas including public health, primary care, psychiatry, and oncology had been in line for pay cuts of up to 12%.
"Now they have reshuffled the numbers in terms of the distribution of the wage uplift, so that there is no pay cut on the scale.
"However, those specialties only received as low as a 3% uplift, which in practical terms, given the inflation in CPI, is still really practically a pay cut.
The union believed it was insufficient to settle the contract, he said.
Other concerns included the apparent loss of a historic clause that meant doctors got $5000 when they passed their first exam, and the potential "carve out" of GPs from the main body of the contract.
The union was in stalemate with HNZ, and striking was a last resort, Dr Lu said.
"The last thing we want to do is to walk away from the hospital — however, if HNZ doesn’t make any further move on their position, I think strike action next month is likely."
HNZ issued a statement yesterday saying it was "frustrated and disappointed" with the strike.
It could not afford to meet the union’s demands, but described the pay offer as "very fair", with increases ranging from 3% to 29.3%.
It was critical of the junior doctor strike being held at the same time as the strike by New Zealand Blood Service workers.
While HNZ was not a party to the other strike, it said it would compound the impact on patients.
APEX and Public Service Association union members of the NZBS began rolling industrial action earlier this week, which is set to continue into next month.
They will strike for four hours today, followed by an all-day withdrawal of service next Tuesday.
