Anaesthetic Technicians employed by Northland District Health Board will hold two 24-hour strikes this week, saying the DHB has refused requests to return to bargaining and mediation on their dispute.
The Anaesthetic Technicians will strike tomorrow and again on Thursday.
The union APEX says last Thursday the DHB sent it a take it or leave it offer, which included an ultimatum that the offer would be withdrawn on Tuesday unless accepted.
The offer is inferior to a previous offer and does not address any of the substantive issues raised by APEX, the union said in a statement this afternoon.
Northland DHB chief executive Nick Chamberlain informed APEX that he considered there to be no point in attending mediation, as any offer from the DHB requires sign off from several cabinet ministers and they have no room to bargain, the union statement said.
"The actions of the DHB are becoming increasingly bizarre," Dr Deborah Powell, National Secretary of APEX said.
Northland DHB is claiming there is no point in returning to the table to bargain, citing the need for sign off from cabinet ministers. If true, this goes against the basic tenets of the Employment Relations Act and is resulting in strikes and an increasingly protracted and bitter dispute," she said.
"At law, the DHB is only required to consult the Ministry of Health. Northland DHB Chief Executive Nick Chamberlain is the employer - he is required to show up at the table and bargain."
APEX says it has also raised concerns about Mr Chamberlain acting in bad faith and the the union is weighing up its option for litigation against the DHB.
The Anaesthetic Technicians at Northland DHB have been trying to address what the union calls a recruitment and retention crisis.
APEX says more than 30 per cent of Anaesthetic Technician positions are vacant, requiring those remaining on the job to work additional shifts and overtime. Surgeries have had to be cancelled due to insufficient staff numbers.
Anaesthetic Technicians work mainly in operating theatres, providing skilled assistance to the anaesthetist, and are also called upon to work in any area where an anaesthetic may be given, including CT, MRI and radiology, ED and intensive care.
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