The Primary and Community Health Association (PCHA) says
New Zealand’s struggling health system has been dealt
another significant blow that will have a detrimental impact
in local communities.
PCHA Board Chair Steve Chadwick
says the government’s fast tracked changes to the Equal
Pay Act 1972 and halting progress of any existing claims is
a kick in the gut to the many nurses who work in primary and
community healthcare.
She calls on the Health Minister
Simeon Brown to show more respect for the many nurses and
carers who have dedicated their lives to supporting their
community.
“This government shows absolute disregard
for the important role that primary and community care
nurses and carers play in the health of New Zealanders,”
Steve said.
“Minister Simeon Brown should be ashamed
of this action. It is wrong and it is
abusive.”
Steve says that by halting pay
equity claim action and amending the Equal Pay Act 1972,
community nurses and carers who have been battling for years
to close the pay gap with their hospital counterparts will
have to go back to the drawing
board.
“What the government is actually
doing is saying to not only community nurses and carers, but
also local communities is, ‘You don’t matter. Your jobs
and your health are not a priority to us.’”
The
Government will ammend the Equal Pay Act 1972 to tighten the
pay equity criteria, making it harder for pay equity claims
to be sought. Additional to this, any existing pay equity
claims will be halted and those claims will need to be
resubmitted under the new and more stringent
criteria.
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“What is also alarming is that the reason
for this action is to ‘reduce the cost to the Crown’,”
Steve said.
“This signals that the Government is
intent on crushing the health system in order to pay for tax
cuts and money for landlords. This will send the health of
individuals, families and communities, many of whom are
already struggling under this government, into further
decline.”
“That in itself is a false economy and
drives false savings – while they pinch money from
community services, they will inevitably have to spend more
money to prop up hospital services when people become very
unwell – it’s completely
nonsensical.”
