Nurses have accepted the latest pay offer from district health boards, it was announced this morning.
The offer was passed by "a significant majority of members'' NZNO spoekeswoman Lesley Harris said.
"We can now commence the work needed on these safe staffing matters,'' Ms Harris said.
"Our pay equity work will get under way immediately with attention to the process and research requirements prior to negotiations.
"This is a significant step for nursing and midwifery in Aotearoa.''
The pay offer accepted by nurses was the fifth they have received - the union recommended members accept the offer.
However, with union members rejecting a previous recommendation from the NZNO to accept an earlier offer - a decision which led to the first nationwide nurses' strike for 30 years - there was never any guarantee the latest bid to settle the long-running dispute would succeed.
Nurses have stood firm in opposition to DHB offers because of concerns over staffing levels and pay rates.
The latest offer brought forward the introduction of new top pay rate slightly, and would also introduce new monitoring and reporting mechanisms to ensure the care capacity and demand management (CCDM) system - the policy to ensure safe staffing levels - is in force in all DHBs.
Since the proposed settlement was put to nurses, the Government, NZNO and DHBs signed a safe staffing accord, under which all parties commit to CCDM being implemented by June 2021.
Prime Minister Jacinda Arden welcomed the yes vote by NZNO members.
“Our nurses are dedicated, caring professionals and deserve decent and safe working conditions,'' Ms Ardern said.
"This settlement rightly delivers the biggest pay increase nurses have seen in a decade and will put 500 more nurses in our hospitals.”
Health Minister David Clark commended the NZNO and DHBs for finding common ground after long and testing negotiations.
“I know nurses will also welcome the commitment to pay equity and the ongoing commitment from DHBs and the Ministry of Health to work on safe staffing through the Accord signed last week.''
- Are you a nurse? Are you happy or unhappy about the outcome of the vote? email mike.houlahan@odt.co.nz
