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.