Gaaah

[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......

[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.