New Zealand / Health

Senior doctors settle pay dispute with Te Whatu Ora

12:07 pm on 1 December 2023

Hospital dentists and senior doctors in September held their first nationwide strike. Photo: RNZ / Delphine Herbert

Senior doctors have settled their pay dispute with Te Whatu Ora after months of strikes and industrial action.

Their union, the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS), said doctors had received an average pay rise of just over 5.7 percent.

Earlier this year the doctors had their first ever nationwide strike, frustrated that they were effectively having their pay cut because it was not keeping up with inflation.

Further strike action planned for October was cancelled after the parties agreed to facilitated bargaining by the Employment Relations Authority (ERA).

The union last month told members it had agreed on a settlement and indicative ballot of members over the proposed terms of settlement was to be held.

The ASMS has thanked New Zealanders for their patience, saying they had had to fight tooth and nail just to stop sliding backwards.