Source: Radio New Zealand
STONZ president Jordan Tewhaiti-Smith Supplied / STONZ
Junior doctors in the Specialty Trainees union have secured a pay increase totalling nearly six percent over the next two years, without the need to take industrial action.
Specialty Trainees of New Zealand, or STONZ, represents graduated doctors who have not yet specialised – also known as Resident Medical Officers (RMOs).
They’re responsible for the majority of doctor hours worked in New Zealand’s public hospitals.
After three months of negotiations with Te Whatu Ora, they’ve reached a pay deal of 2.5 percent in the first year, and 2.5 percent the year after that, plus a one-off cash payment of $3000.
The deal also includes better rates for additional duties, like picking up extra shifts, improvements for parents returning from parental leave and more support for doctors relocating to different hospitals for training.
Union president Jordan Tewhaiti-Smith said reaching an agreement without having to take industrial action was “a huge win”.
“Our members are critical to the functioning of our hospitals, and this deal runs end to end with our last agreement which means no disruption to services or to our members’ terms and conditions.”
The deal would apply to any RMO who joined STONZ in the next two years, minus the lump sum payment.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
