Canterbury DHB Pharmacy Strike: Members Issue Notice for More Strike Action
Pharmacy staff (Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacy Assistants) at Canterbury DHB ended a four day strike this morning at 0600 and have issued notice for more strike action. Further strike action is an inevitable consequence of the continued failure by Canterbury DHB to make any offer in settlement for their collective agreement.
“Despite an offer of mediation late last week, Canterbury DHB have declined to attend. With no plans to return to bargaining and no offer in sight, Pharmacy members have been left with no other option but to take further industrial action,” says Denise Tairua, Advocate for APEX, the union representing Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacy Assistants.
APEX commenced bargaining for the renewal of the Canterbury DHB Pharmacy agreement on the 10 August 2018 – over 12 months ago.
“Members are feeling frustrated and undervalued. These delays in receiving an offer are just not good enough,” explains Tairua.
The strike will comprise of a complete withdrawal of labour, commencing 1800 on Friday 6 September 2019 and ending at 0600 on Wednesday 11 September 2019.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Denise Tairua
APEX Advocate
Phone: 021827579
ABOUT HOSPITAL PHARMACISTS AND PHARMACY TECHNICIANS
Pharmacist
The traditional role of a pharmacist is to compound and supply medications. This has evolved over time with pharmacists today having many different roles in the hospital setting such as a clinical pharmacist who works with patients & other healthcare professionals on the wards & in clinics, being a pharmacist-prescriber or working as a specialist pharmacist within a specialty such as oncology, cardiology, clinical trials or surgery. Pharmacists hold an overarching responsibility to ensure that a medication is appropriate and safe for a patient and are valued members of the multidisciplinary team. Pharmacists are also responsible for providing medicines information to patients as well as other health professionals.
Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacy Technicians are essential members of the Pharmacy team whose duties include the processing of prescriptions, dispensing and compounding of medicines, imprest stock management, repacking bulk medicines and the monitoring and delivery of medication to hospital wards and departments. A hospital trained Pharmacy Technician may also work in a ward setting performing medicines reconciliation on admission and discharge.