About 100,000 employees across the public sector are expected to walk off the job today.
The industrial action – labelled as a "mega strike" – includes teachers, nurses, and other public sector workers who are demanding better pay, safer staffing levels, and improved working conditions.
Public services workers across health, education and other sectors protest over pay and conditions. (Source: 1News)
It is expected that public services will be disrupted as the strike unfolds.
Who is striking, and where?
The primary unions taking part in the strike are the Primary Teachers Association, the Public Service Association, the New Zealand Nurses Organisation, the Post Primary Teachers Association, NZEI Te Riu Roa and the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, also known as ASMS.
Chris Abercrombie of the PPTA say his union’s members feel "disrespected" by their latest offer.
Along with the strikes, wild weather has also been forecast to sweep across parts of the country today, bringing strong winds and rain. As a result, some outdoor events connected to the strikes have been called off.
Many other planned events remain in place, and will take place across Aotearoa.
Hospitals and some other services to remain open
Health New Zealand chief executive Dr Dale Bramley said patient safety will remain a priority throughout the strikes.
"Hospitals, emergency departments, mental health units and some community services will remain open during the strikes, with union members supporting our non striking staff in providing life-preserving services."
The public is encouraged to only use Emergency Departments for "genuine emergencies".
Patients with non-urgent needs would face longer delays to be seen, Bramley said.
What to expect as tens of thousands walk off the job across NZ, watch on TVNZ+
"Our crisis and acute mental health services will be open, but routine clinics will be closed and most home visits will not go ahead.
"To maintain patient safety most hospital-based clinics will also be closed tomorrow. However, if you still have a hospital appointment tomorrow, please come to your appointment unless we have contacted you directly to reschedule."
Appointments rescheduled due to the strikes would be set for the "next available opportunity".
Police working on safety
Yesterday, police said significant disruption to roads were expected today due to planned action in central Auckland.
The Auckland rally is scheduled to start at about noon from Aotea Square, before marching down Queen St to end at Te Komititanga Square.
Police said they were working closely with event organisers to ensure safety of participants and the wider public but advised motorists to plan ahead and avoid Queen St and the surrounding areas if possible.
Row with Government ministers
Over the weekend, Public Service Minister Judith Collins labelled the planned action as “politically motivated”, but insisted the Government had acted in good faith, and had offered pay increases in line with inflation.
While the Government valued public sector workers – including teachers, nurses, and doctors – it must also manage finances responsibly amid tight budgets and growing demands, she argued.
In recent days, Health Minister Simeon Brown labelled strike action by medical professionals as “crossing an ethical line”, and suggested doctors were hurting patients.
Health Minister Simeon Brown and Education Minister Erica Stanford speak to Breakfast about today’s strikes. (Source: Breakfast)
Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche said yesterday strikes were “avoidable”, and would result in significant disruption for patients, parents, students and families.
“I regret that outcome for New Zealanders, especially as I thought progress could have been made on bargaining – disappointingly, the unions didn’t see it that way,” he said.
“As we navigate our way through this, I am also reflecting on what, if anything, we can learn from the private sector. There haven’t been major strikes, and most settlements have been at lower rates than what’s currently on offer in the public sector. This contrast highlights just how complex and challenging the situation is.”
Sir Brian urged the unions to “come back to the table” to “negotiate a reasonable solution”.
What does Labour say?
Labour leader Chris Hipkins has raised concerns over the Public Service Commission's decision to run advertisements on Facebook which encouraged people to find out more about strike action happening.
The ads contained information about previous offers that had been made to nurse practitioners, senior nurses and graduate nurses.
Hipkins said the commission was overstepping, and Labour's public services spokesperson Camilla Belich said it was an "absolutely unbelievable decision to weaponise the Public Service Commission against striking workers".
The Labour leader said he "fronted up" to teachers who were striking while he was Minister of Education. He said the present Education Minister was "currently invisible" in this process.
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