CDHB workers enter mediation over service leave

Maintenance staff at Canterbury District Health Board are continuing their campaign to retain their extra week’s service leave and secure a fair and decent pay rise.

On Friday the EPMU and CDHB went into mediation to break the impasse, which began in September last year and involved a threat of strike action.

EPMU organiser Ron Angel says progress was made during mediation and the two parties have agreed to meet again.

“We’ve made enough progress that we feel it’s worth continuing our discussions in mediation. There are still big issues on the table though, particularly the extra week’s leave and the term of the agreement.

“The way we see it, CDHB gives the senior doctors six weeks and the nurses get five weeks after five years, so what we’re asking for is hardly unreasonable.”