Plunket and primary health care workers walked off the job for several hours last week to protest for pay parity.
At present, primary healthcare workers and Plunket staff are paid 20% less than their hospital counterparts.
Timaru Plunket nurse Kristin Barton said they wanted to do something for themselves instead of joining the strike in Christchurch.
‘‘We have got nurses and admin staff out here protesting as we cover a large area and we want that acknowledged.’’
Plunket nurse Liz Watson agreed that they did cover a large area.
‘‘We support mums and babies in rural areas, all the way from Glenavy to Rangatata. We want to be acknowledged for the area we cover and the pay parity would help cover the costs of travel.’’
She said that they were required to undertake postgraduate study within the first 18 months of Plunket employment, something that hospital nurses are not required to do.
She also said that they were not just protesting for pay parity for themselves, but also for future nurses.
‘‘We want the equivalent to the hospital nurses but we want new nurses to come into Plunket.’’
Plunket clinical leader Raelene Todd said the nurses and admin staff were paid less and were having to ask the Government for funding because they were not associated with Te Whatu Ora.
‘‘My understanding is that for Plunket to match the pay, it would require another $9 million.’’
