Laboratory Workers at Awanui Labs on 28 July 2023
Tuesday 26 July 2023
Laboratory Workers at SCL Labs – part of Awanui Labs – in the South Island and Wellington region will strike on Friday 28th July 2023.
This strike will be a full withdrawal of labour for all APEX members – including scientists, technicians and phlebotomists – at all medical laboratories and collection centres from the Wellington region south, except for Canterbury Health Labs at Christchurch hospital and the lab at Grey hospital on the West Coast which are run by Te Whatu Ora. The strike also includes the Awanui Lab in Hawkes Bay.
At mediated bargaining on 12 July Awanui made a pay offer of 5% for a one-year term.
‘This was almost worse than when the business had made no offer at all,’ said Advocacy Lead David Munro today. ‘Until they made an offer there was at least the hope that the business was thinking carefully about a package that could settle this dispute. Instead, they made an offer that does not even lift Awanui rates to the pay rates currently being paid to Te Whatu Ora laboratory workers, and who are themselves in bargaining for an increase in rates. It’s just a kick in the guts to this underpaid and fatigued workforce’, Mr Munro continued. ‘These workers are the heroes that got New Zealand through the pandemic whilst their employer made massive profits from Covid testing. All they got for that was a thank-you from the Prime Minister. What they really need more is a pay offer to settle this dispute.’
APEX represents more than 80% of the workforce who fall within the coverage of the collective agreement.
Life Preserving Services Agreements have been made for those hospital labs where a union member must be available during the strike in the event of a life, limb, or possibility of permanent disability, medical crisis event.
Plans are in place for further strike action in August.
Pickets will be held on 28 July 2023 as follows:
Southland/Invercargill
• Friday 28th July 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 169 Don Street Bleeding Centre, Invercargill
Dunedin
• Friday 28th 12:00 PM in the Octagon
Wellington
• Friday 28th 12:30 PM Wellington Regional Hospital, 49 Riddiford Street, Newtown
Christchurch
• Friday 28th July 12:00 PM, Northfield Collection Centre Level 0 Northfield Business Park, 60 Langdons Road, Papanui
Nelson
• Friday 28th 12:30 PM on Waimea Road opposite Nelson Hospital ED.
Timaru
• Friday 28th July 12:00 PM, on the corner of Dee St and Theodosia St, Timaru
ENDS
Contact: David Munro – Advocacy Lead Mobile: (027) 276 9999 Email: david@apex.org.nz
What is a Medical Laboratory Worker?
Medical Laboratory Workers are registered health professionals who run laboratories and test, interpret and report laboratory results. They are trained to identify disease and abnormalities through studying blood, tissue and other bodily samples. Laboratory workers work ‘behind the scenes’ but remain an integral part of the health system whose work is vital to patient treatment. More than 90% of prescribed treatments require laboratory input to aid/confirm diagnosis or to monitor drug levels or disease progression.
Medical laboratory science is a bit like detective work. Workers look for answers to the disease ‘puzzle’ to help doctors diagnose and treat their patients. They answer questions such as: are these cells abnormal? What do these blood cells tell us about this person’s health? How does it fit in with their other symptoms? How much of drug ‘x’ is in this person’s blood? Is it working effectively? What bug is making this person sick?
Medical Laboratory Workers take on a high level of responsibility, often needing to make important decisions under pressure. Emergencies can occur at any time, day or night, so laboratory workers have to prioritise and use their initiative, often without much back-up. If the doctor needs to know the answer, they have to deliver. Sometimes this means working through the night providing results while patients fight for their life in another part of the hospital or a surgeon waits, mid-operation, for a phone call.
Responsibilities include developing, adapting and applying scientific methods of analysis and ensuring high standards of quality assurance. An understanding of the methodology and theory behind complicated, technical and automated equipment is essential, as is developing the skills necessary to identify and interpret abnormalities under the microscope or via other diagnostic technology. Laboratory workers are highly regarded and sought after worldwide.