APEX Psychologist Strike

Psychologists employed by District Health Boards have voted in favour of further strike action.

From Tuesday 3 September, Psychologists employed by sixteen District Health Boards (DHBs) and members of APEX – the union for health professionals, will stop accepting allocations of new patients onto their caseload and will stop participating in group work with patients.

The strike will last for four weeks and follows on from the nationwide overtime ban that began on 31 July and will continue until Tuesday 3 September.

“Despite the Government’s stated intentions of increasing access to psychological services for New Zealanders, we have not yet seen any new offer from DHBs to settle the national collective agreement for psychologists on terms attractive enough to recruit and retain these specialists,” says Dr Deborah Powell, APEX National Secretary.

“Low pay, understaffing and lack of professional support for psychologists is sapping the morale of the workforce. We know the Ministry of Health has $13.8 million allocated to mental health workforce development this year, they are dragging their feet on spending it to improve psychologists’ terms and conditions. We need to return to negotiations with DHBs presenting an offer to lift wages and staffing levels for psychologists in New Zealand’s health services,” concluded Dr Powell.

ENDS

Dr Deborah Powell is available for comment on 021 614 040.

About Psychologists

Psychologists, including clinical psychologists and health psychologists, are employed in District Health Boards across a range of mental health services including forensic services, community mental health, addiction and inpatient services. Psychologists also work in physical health services including cancer, cardiac, spinal, diabetes and older persons’ health.

Learn more about APEX Psychologist Division.