Lab workers to strike over stalled pay talks

Detailed summary

Workers employed at Awanui Labs - the country's biggest private laboratory service - have notified strike action on Thursday 19, Friday 20, Monday 23, and Tuesday 24 November.

More than 600 medical laboratory workers will walk off the job next week after the APEX Union said collective bargaining for a new contract between it and Awanui Labs has “ground to a halt”.

Workers employed at Awanui Labs - the country's biggest private laboratory service - have notified strike action on Thursday 19, Friday 20, Monday 23, and Tuesday 24 November.

Pay rates, working conditions, and the future of medical laboratory services all remain key sticking points.

A September survey of lab workers found almost 70 per cent rate the staffing situation as either poor or at crisis level.

Strike action will impact medical laboratories and phlebotomy collection centres in Northland, Auckland, Taranaki, Wellington, Nelson, Blenheim, Canterbury, Otago and Southland.

Hospital services will be impacted including at Southland, Dunedin, Wellington, Hutt, Oamaru, Nelson and Wairau Hospitals.

Awanui chief people officer Samantha Ford said Awanui remained in facilitated bargaining with APEX through the Employment Relations Authority.

"We acknowledge the concerns raised by staff and recognise the critical work our people do every day in supporting the health system and the care of New Zealanders.

"There are no plans to stop any laboratory services in any region where Awanui operates, and no planned reductions in staffing levels. For any service change, Awanui is committed to meaningful and robust consultation with the relevant parties, including APEX where relevant."

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