The union representing some of the highest paid hospital employees is supporting the pay claim of some of the lowest paid.
The executive director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, Ian Powell, has written to the six South Island district health boards expressing concern at their position with the Public Service Association over clerical and administrative staff's collective agreement.
Mr Powell urged the boards to reconsider their position, saying workers would reasonably have expected the same pattern of settlements over three years as had occurred in the North Island, of 3%, 4% and 4%.
PSA national secretary Richard Wagstaff welcomed the ASMS support and said it showed boards they could not isolate clerical and administration staff, who were "part of the health team".
The agreement covered 800 members, 80% of them earning less than $37,500 a year, he said.
He confirmed at this stage the boards were not willing to pass on the same increases as their North Island counterparts.
He was looking forward to a resolution of outstanding issues when the parties went into mediation next month.
