Photo: Tek Image / Science Photo Library / ABO via AFP
Medical laboratory scientists and technicians accuse the country's largest privately-owned lab company of bleeding New Zealanders of millions of dollars in profit while paying some qualified staff less than the new minimum wage.
A 24-hour strike by APEX union members employed by SCL Awanui Labs in the South Island, Wellington and Hawke's Bay will finish at midnight - their 11th full day of strike action since July.
Advocacy lead David Munro said scientists were paid a third less than their counterparts in Te Whatu Ora run labs, while the pay gap for medical laboratory pre-analytical technicians was 46.7 percent after three years' experience.
"If Awanui accepted the most recent APEX claim that gap would reduce to 36.78 percent. That is still a long way off parity between Te Whatu Ora and Awanui," he said.
"The current rate for a beginning MLPAT at Awanui is $23 per hour. Astonishingly, that is below what the government has announced will be the minimum wage from 1 April 2024: $23.15 per hour."
The Awanui business continued to hide behind offers based on current "going rate increases" from Te Whatu Ora, he said.
But this followed approach follows their $43 million dividend payment to shareholders after their profit from the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Forty-eight percent of that dividend goes to a Canadian Teachers Retirement fund."
In a written statement, an Awanui spokesperson said its priority during the strike was to ensure those who were seriously ill still received the critical, life preserving testing they needed and urgent services were being maintained.
"We are liaising with Te Whatu Ora and referrers to minimise the impact on the health sector and apologise for any inconvenience for patients during this time."
Awanui last met with the APEX Union mid-January for a day of facilitation supported by the Employment Relations Authority (ERA).
"We are awaiting recommendations from the ERA on next steps, and we remain open and committed to reaching a resolution."
Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora said it recently met with private providers of laboratory services and workers' representatives to progress "pay equity issues across the sector".
"There have been no significant developments from those discussions to date and they are ongoing.
"We note that the ongoing dispute between Awanui and their staff is a matter for those parties involved to comment on.
"We do acknowledge and thank the laboratory workers at Awanui for their ongoing co-operation in providing life-preserving services during any strike action."