Hospices urge Health NZ to help nurse pay equity progress

Hospice nurses say they are paid up to 25 per cent less than their Health NZ counterparts, despite comparable work and qualifications. Hospices are also struggling to recruit and retain staff, they say.

The hospices’ dispute with Health NZ is centred on a crucial step in the pay equity process. Changes to the Equal Pay Act made last year saw 33 existing claims affecting some 180,000 workers cancelled. But Ministers insisted new claims could still proceed under amended rules.

The pay equity process involves comparing the work and pay of a female-dominated workforce with suitable male-dominated jobs to assess whether its work has been undervalued.

Hospice nurses cannot easily make that comparison within their own organisations. In February, representatives of 27 hospices asked Health NZ to allow three groups of its employees – scientists, biomedical technicians and hospital dentists – to be considered as comparators.

But Health NZ rejected the proposed groups.

Hospice leaders say the agency’s reasons included that some had already been covered by pay equity settlements under the previous law. They challenged that explanation and sought clarification.

In July, Health NZ acting national director Jason Power told New Zealand Nurses Organisation chief executive Paul Goulter the agency was not responsible for claims brought against other employers.

Hospice leaders warned then Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden in July they faced “the very real possibility” of having to withdraw from the process.

Hospice New Zealand chief executive Wayne Naylor said the claim met the amended law’s merit requirements and the nurses’ job evaluations were complete, but the comparator assessments could not progress.

“We have spent more than three years and over $100,000 trying to resolve this issue,” Mr Naylor said.

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Health NZ accused of blocking pay equity claims (By Andrea Vance/Stuff)