Gaaah

[Lias]

I need to vent about this radiologists strike.

Will someone please go find a striking radiologists and smack them upside the fucking head with a blunt object until they fucking well go back to work.

The goddamn government needs to make it illegal for hospital workers to strike, but they wont because the labour party are all a bunch of communist strike organising union fuckwits themselves.

Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.

I really want to run them over with a truck then say they cant have an xray because all the workers are striking.

[imdying]

I know four young woman who're radiation therapists. At least one isn't a union member. It's a prick for her... she gets the rag for being an RT at the moment, isn't allowed to be rostered on with union members, etc etc

The unions have a part to play in this don't forget... they've been useless pricks for years, and they're not stopping now.

[Squeak the Rat]

What's the strike about - money & conditions no doubt. Anyone got any figures on what the rasiographers get paid, what their shifts are and how many payrises they've had over the last ten years (and how much each time).

Would like to understand the background before uppercutting some hospital workers.....

[JimO]

people have to have the right to withdraw labour...you have that right why shouldnt they? and im not a union guy havving been self employed for over 22 years

[Karma]

people have to have the right to withdraw labour...you have that right why shouldnt they? and im not a union guy havving been self employed for over 22 years

That right is usually called resigning.

[Ixion]

Uh huh. and every one of those radiographers could walk into a job in Australia (or anywhere else) tomorrow for a good amount more than the rate they get in NZ. So if the radiographers resign en masse, where does that leave the Health Service. Know how many years training it reqires before you are able to do that ? (Legally or practically).

That is the biggest problem in hospital radiographic services - the radiograhers DO keep resigning.

[Jantar]

Radiologists have been having problems with pay and conditions for years. Each time there is a dispute they are finally consolled with some increase that is less than they deserve. Each time the employers say that the dispute is settled and each time the radiologists say it isn't.

This time around it is really coming to a head. They can earn 30 - 60% more in australia, 100 - 150% more in USA or europe. So the numbers available to work here is dwindling. That is putting more pressure on the ones left, ie more work for less pay than avilable overseas.

The worst part is that it isn't just radiologists, it is highly skilled workers in almost every industry. Even I keep asking myself why I'm still in New Zealand when I could be earning so much more overseas. And the answer is simply - the great country we live in.

[James Deuce]

It's difficult to discuss coalface health sector worker's pay.

My wife has a Masters in Nursing. We have three kids. She can't earn enough as a nurse to be able to afford childcare for three kids, even working full time rostered rotating shifts. She's worked in everything from Infectious diseases, through neo-natal intensive care in the UK, to one on one nursing of suicide and eating disorder patients.

How is that in any way a reflection of her skills, capability, and commitment to her career?

Radiographer's are in the same boat. Just like Nurses, chronic under staffing has become the norm, and a simple shift across the Tasman will net a better lifestyle and income.

But of course that doesn't matter. Health Worker drones should be doing it for free, because after all, they're just there to titillate the male patients with their uniforms and be your tea and coffee bitch.

[Clivoris]

I've got a good mate missing out on his treatment because of this strike but his perspective is that the DHB's should pay the radiologists the pathetic 3% they are asking for. I'm an ex DHB employee myself and left because of the amount of fucking around that they were doing around our contract negotiations. My totally subjective interpretation of the DHBs' stance is that if you aren't the PSA, they don't want to deal. They are scared shitless that assertive unions like APEX will gain more support if they get what they want. They would rather punish employees and patients than settle on what is a reasonable deal. Let's be clear, the amount of money that this would have cost the DHB is pathetic and totally affordable. It is probably less than what they have paid for consultants on the issue, or lease cars and bonuses for the CEOs. They will continue to lose staff in vital areas for the sake of a pissing contest. Pack of fucking pricks.

[imdying]

Just to confirm, is it the radiologists (xray people) or the radiation therapists (treat cancer) that are striking?

[Clivoris]

Yeah sorry mate. Ranting has a negative affect on my communication skills. It is the Radiation Therapists.

[Squeak the Rat]

You bunch of left wing pussy homos hijacking this thread.

Surely the workers who deal with the cancer patients wouldn't just do this on a whim. You have to have some degree of caring nature to work nursing or similar. The strikers know the consequences but they're still striking. Says to me that things must be bad - and getting worse.

Make the strikes illegal and have all the workers f-off overseas, then things will be a LOT worse.

[Clivoris]

You bunch of left wing pussy homos hijacking this thread.



I am so busted.

[Winston001]

I've got a good mate missing out on his treatment because of this strike but his perspective is that the DHB's should pay the radiologists the pathetic 3% they are asking for. I'm an ex DHB employee myself and left because of the amount of fucking around that they were doing around our contract negotiations. Let's be clear, the amount of money that this would have cost the DHB is pathetic and totally affordable. It is probably less than what they have paid for consultants on the issue, or lease cars and bonuses for the CEOs.

Just a reminder that the DHBs were created by the government as a convenient whipping boy to take all the blame for health disputes. The simple reality is that DHBs have no money at except what central government gives them. And since many DHBs in fact over-spend their budgets, they don't have an ability to pay what many of them would actually like to agree to.

As for greener fields in Oz, UK, USA etc, all true. Just as NZ is very attractive for Sri Lankans, Indians, South Americans etc etc. I don't know what the answer is but NZ at the moment can't compete on money terms with wealthier nations. The only thing we have to offer is our lifestyle - and that is a mighty compelling reason to live here. Good luck to the radiographers, we really can't afford to lose them.

[hazard02]

Pretty much everyone in our country thinks they deserve a pay rise, and a majority of them probably do. Sadly we aren't the wealthiest of nations, so paying out more to one striking group means another misses out, who in turn strike themselves etc. etc. The government doesn't have a great horde of cash that it selfishly keeps to itself instead of paying healthcare workers what they are owed.

Edit to convey point: There won't be a point anytime soon in which everyone is happy with their pay and working conditions. Healthcare/teachers/minimum wage strikes will forever come and go like the ebb and flow of tides. Get used to it.

[Squeak the Rat]

That's true hazard02, but the big question is why are we a poor country? And what is our government doing to fix it?

I bet it's a bit hard for the health workers to swallow the "no money" line of reasoning when you have cullen gloating about a $10billion surplus last year.

[PuppetMaster]

I bet it's a bit hard for the health workers to swallow the "no money" line of reasoning when you have cullen gloating about a $10billion surplus last year.


Exactly. I can see that $10 bil going to some gay and lesbian hip hop tour. Im sure part of it has already been spent by the department of health with their new $6 million offices on the Terrace. feckers.

The reason they dont want to pay the RT's more, is that they are worried that the rest of the health sector workers will want more money. My wife is being effected by the strikes, we are both right behind the Therapists, as are the majority of people ive spoken to at the Cancer centre.
And dont get me started on Herceptin funding......:mad:

[Jimmy B]

It's difficult to discuss coalface health sector worker's pay.

My wife has a Masters in Nursing. We have three kids. She can't earn enough as a nurse to be able to afford childcare for three kids, even working full time rostered rotating shifts. She's worked in everything from Infectious diseases, through neo-natal intensive care in the UK, to one on one nursing of suicide and eating disorder patients.

How is that in any way a reflection of her skills, capability, and commitment to her career?

Radiographer's are in the same boat. Just like Nurses, chronic under staffing has become the norm, and a simple shift across the Tasman will net a better lifestyle and income.

But of course that doesn't matter. Health Worker drones should be doing it for free, because after all, they're just there to titillate the male patients with their uniforms and be your tea and coffee bitch.


Same case with my cousin and I dont know where she gets the bottle to carry on, awesome lady. FFS the Gumint spends enough of our tax dollars on teir 2 priorities with out addressing serious issues in our own back yard. Yachting anyone? What Sunami? Give me another stadium!!

[V4ME]

Pay us all more and sack all union bosses!!!?

..but whatever you do don't sack the xray department people...

[terbang]

There are two sides to any industrial arguement. With shit-heads on both sides. The media have taken a one eyed view over this one and the radiographers are bearing the brunt of public opinion.

[terbang]

but the big question is why are we a poor country?
Little natural rescourses and only 4 mil heads.

[Jimmy B]

Little natural rescourses and only 4 mil heads.

And of those 4M working age population is around 3.2M with a participation rate of 68% ie 2.1M tax payers x average wage = shit all

[Squeak the Rat]

Little natural rescourses and only 4 mil heads.

Population of Ireland 4,062,235 (July 2006 est.). Little natural resources apart from guiness and peat.

The only difference is that it is close to Europe, but so are 25 other countries. The Irish government pulled finger, schemed, begged, bribed and stole to find an opportunity, niche and angle to get business' to invest.

[Jimmy B]

Population of Ireland 4,062,235 (July 2006 est.). Little natural resources apart from guiness and peat.

The only difference is that it is close to Europe, but so are 25 other countries. The Irish government pulled finger, schemed, begged, bribed and stole to find an opportunity, niche and angle to get business' to invest.

Good example STR, even better is Singapore although who would want to live there aye?

[James Deuce]

Though a benign totalitarian Dictatorship is probably the only way out of our downward spiral.

[Paul in NZ]

Though a benign totalitarian Dictatorship is probably the only way out of our downward spiral.



Well it's not really a democracy here at the moment is it....

[Macktheknife]

Pretty much everyone in our country thinks they deserve a pay rise, and a majority of them probably do. Sadly we aren't the wealthiest of nations, so paying out more to one striking group means another misses out, who in turn strike themselves etc. etc. The government doesn't have a great horde of cash that it selfishly keeps to itself instead of paying healthcare workers what they are owed.
.

Apart from the $8 billion surplus that they want us all to forget about.
No the government doesn't have any money *jedi mind trick hand gesture*
I would love to see the health service and emergency services finally get something close to what they deserve.
Pay the increase I say, it is definately worth it.

[James Deuce]

Well it's not really a democracy here at the moment is it....

I did say benign.

[Lias]

Radiologists have been having problems with pay and conditions for years. Each time there is a dispute they are finally consolled with some increase that is less than they deserve. Each time the employers say that the dispute is settled and each time the radiologists say it isn't.

AFAIK health workers are the only ones out of the emergency services that are allowed to strike.. Cops arnt and I'm pretty sure fireys arnt either.

Its a tanget from the thread, but as for combatting the brain drain, the government needs to stop subsidising tertiary education, make students pay the entire cost of tuition (but provide them with student loans), and simply not allow them to leave the country until the loan is repaid in full.

Or if they keep the current heavily subsidised model, to make it illegal to leave the country within say 10-20 years of getting a degree that received any govt funding.

[limbimtimwim]

Population of Ireland 4,062,235 (July 2006 est.). Little natural resources apart from guiness and peat. The only difference is that it is close to Europe, but so are 25 other countries. The Irish government pulled finger, schemed, begged, bribed and stole to find an opportunity, niche and angle to get business' to invest.And massive EU subsidies. Massive. Put the Republic of Ireland through the great EU subsidies calculation engine, and they end up pretty good. Add Turkey to the equation and things change. They don't want Turkey :) .

But yeah, on topic, health workers in NZ working in the public sector. A crime how they are paid. Gummint money is wasted on other shit that I find distasteful. Hell, I mean: http://www.stuff.co.nz/3924405a11.html . No 1 the Terrace is a cushy location. And the building has just had a new atrium built.

Actually, upgrading Wellington hospital in situ is a huge waste of money as well, it should not be there, an entirely political decision. It should be at Kenepuru or in the Hutt to best serve Wellington. This coming from a person who would be disadvantaged by the hospital not being upgraded in the current place.

[Jimmy B]

Its a tanget from the thread, but as for combatting the brain drain, the government needs to stop subsidising tertiary education, make students pay the entire cost of tuition (but provide them with student loans), and simply not allow them to leave the country until the loan is repaid in full.

.


One of the initiatives that Singapore has implemented is to spend the thick end of USD1B on educating their best and brightest in foriegn tertiary institutions, think Harvard, Oxford etc on the basis that they are contracted back to their Government upon completion where their skills will be used for R&D and the overall betterment of the country.

No loans , No B/S, Take it or leave it, Everyone wins

[avgas]

less wankers more workers!!!!!

[James Deuce]

AFAIK health workers are the only ones out of the emergency services that are allowed to strike.. Cops arnt and I'm pretty sure fireys arnt either.

Its a tanget from the thread, but as for combatting the brain drain, the government needs to stop subsidising tertiary education, make students pay the entire cost of tuition (but provide them with student loans), and simply not allow them to leave the country until the loan is repaid in full.

Or if they keep the current heavily subsidised model, to make it illegal to leave the country within say 10-20 years of getting a degree that received any govt funding.

Health workers aren't Emergency Services workers.

Ambos are, and it's arguable that ED Doctors and Nurses are Emergency Workers in the strictest sense, but Hospital staff aren't.

The University funding model you suggest is precisely what Norway do, and they have the same population as NZ. Works a treat. Their GDP is phenomenal, however they do have the advantage of North Sea Oil. I think it is a great idea. Pay for it yourself and do what you want or let the Government pay and work for them, either bonded or unable to work overseas.

[Clivoris]

less wankers more workers!!!!!

Can I still wank on my own time?

[Lias]

Can I still wank on my own time?

No.

Every sperm is sacred, every sperm is great, and if one gets wasted god gets quite irate..

[Sniper]

Pretty much everyone in our country thinks they deserve a pay rise, and a majority of them probably do. Sadly we aren't the wealthiest of nations, so paying out more to one striking group means another misses out, who in turn strike themselves etc. etc. The government doesn't have a great horde of cash that it selfishly keeps to itself instead of paying healthcare workers what they are owed.


What about the $10bil they have lying around to build stadiums?

[Sniper]

No.

Every sperm is sacred, every sperm is great, and if one gets wasted god gets quite irate..

<img src=http://www.sesto-senso.com/blue-q-kill-a-kitty-gum.jpg></img src>