This update is to provide information regarding the recent industrial action and to recognise the ongoing challenges of the strike activity impacting your service. 

Firstly, I want to acknowledge that the now eight days of strike action from Awanui APEX Union members has impacted the day-to-day care of your patients. We recognise this is a challenging interruption to your business and ability to deliver patient care.

The following provides information in relation to the employment dispute causing the strike activity:

• Over the past 12 months Awanui has signed collective agreements with four other unions without industrial action taking place. These have been collegial negotiations seeing uplifts in pay and conditions for their members.
• The collective bargaining process with APEX union has been shaped primarily by APEX’s emphasis on achieving pay parity with the public sector (~30% increases). The pay parity issue was created when the unions, including APEX, settled a pay equity claim with Health New Zealand in October 2023 which excluded their members working in private laboratories.
• With little progress being made via bargaining, Awanui, at APEX’s request, participated in facilitated bargaining with the Employment Relations Authority (ERA). The ERA examined all relevant factors of the employment dispute and made recommendations for both parties to reach a resolution.
• Awanui accepted these recommendations and revised our offer to align with the recommendations made by the ERA – the recommendations can be found here.
• Disappointingly, APEX rejected the recommendations of the ERA, and our updated offer, and announced the further three days of strikes (between Easter and ANZAC) and 15 further partial strike notices, which have now been withdrawn (Wednesday 30 April.)
• We are committed to continue working with APEX towards a fair and sustainable outcome for Awanui APEX members.
• We are also committed to bridging the pay gap created by the October 2023 pay equity settlement, and we are working hard with Health NZ to find a solution. These discussions are active and ongoing.

On behalf of Awanui leadership team, I thank you for your patience during this time. We ask that you are respectful when communicating with our team, not all staff are union members and our operational teams are working incredibly hard to deliver as many services as possible during the industrial action.

Ngā mihi nui,

Dr Richard Steele
Chief Medical Officer
Awanui Group