Hundreds of New Zealand Blood Service employees across the country have voted to strike next week, impacting elective surgeries in major centres.
More than 290 lab workers, scientists, technicians and administrators will stop work on Friday, May 31 from 1pm to 5pm and for 24 hours on Tuesday June 4.
Their union, the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mah (PSA), says the action follows more than seven months of stalled negotiations to try and achieve pay parity with Te Whatu Ora.
“It’s extremely unfair for us to be paid 13-35 percent less than our colleagues at Te Whatu Ora for the same work, with the same skills and experience,” said PSA delegate Sian Dallaway.
Strike action will take place in Auckland, Waikato, Tauranga, Palmerston North, Wellington Christchurch and Dunedin.