Junior doctors have settled their long-running pay dispute with district health boards, but say they will be back at the negotiating table within a year.
Bitter negotiations resulted in doctors striking twice this year in their bid for an increase of almost 10% for each of three years.
The settlement included an 8.68% pay rise, with a further 2% in eight months, and 5% back payment for the 15 months they have been negotiating.
New Zealand Resident Doctors Association Dunedin representative Dr Logan Mitchell said, overall, most Dunedin junior doctors would be pleased to have reached a settlement and not have the threat of more strike action looming over them.
"People are not totally happy with it because we don't really think it is enough to solve the recruitment and retention crisis, but at least it means we can move forward."
Association president Deborah Powell said the settlement was for a short term and they would be back at the table in late 2009.
The junior doctors' union had sought a significantly longer term to create some stability in the sector, but district health boards refused to agree, Dr Powell said.
"This settlement is more of a pause in the process than an end in itself."
Other features of the settlement included increased hourly rates to between $75 and $100 for doctors covering night shifts in addition to their normal duties, and a commitment from district health boards to introduce part-time opportunities for junior doctors, which meant those who wanted to work fewer hours would not be restricted to locum work.
"With the average hours worked by a resident [junior] doctor between 55 and 60 per week, and more than 50% of residents now women, this particularly affects those trying to balance a career with family commitments."
Health boards spokesman David Meates said the deal was in line with other health settlements during the past year and cleared the way to start talking about long-term solutions to the "very real challenges" the sector faced.
"Pay talks alone won't solve these problems. The answer lies in working collaboratively with the wider clinical community to test and explore the options that will meet the training and development needs of our medical workforce and, most importantly, the long-term health needs of New Zealanders."
