The union representing St John Ambulance workers is planning to lift a gag order on its members, allowing them to talk directly to journalists about problems in the service.
Photo: ST JOHN NZ
About 1000 St John Ambulance workers will have their wages cut by 10 percent for taking a third month of strike action after collective agreement negotiations broke down.
The union's spokesperson Jared Abbott said members want to highlight long shifts without breaks as well as single crew ambulances being sent to emergencies.
They have stopped attending special events that require overtime and are also wearing a t-shirt with a logo supporting the strike while on the job.
"It's a very non-confrontational t-shirt, it basically has our campaign logo on it and it reads 'Healthy Ambos Save Lives'."
"One of the reasons I believe St John want people to wear high-viz over the top of that is so people can't go to the campaign website [on the shirt] to actually see what's happening," he said.
Ambulance staff have been asked to wear high-visbility vests while on call-outs. Photo: RNZ / Jacob McSweeny
The pay cut was for those members who chose to wear the t-shirt instead of the customary high-viz jacket, St John said in a statement.
But Mr Abbott argued the jacket was only for traffic related incidents.
He said the union was preparing another strike notice, in which paramedics will speak to journalists about problems in the service.
"The members aren't able to speak out about the service and some of the things that are actually happening, which gives the management a free run in the media," he said.
"We're going to lift that gag order and have paramedics speaking directly to the media about what really happens in the service."
St John said it has reached agreements with the other four unions representing staff, but it cannot afford First Union's demands for a 2 percent pay rise and additional leave.