Nzno Meca Agreement 2018
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) has recently announced an updated Multi-Employer Collective Agreement (MECA) for nurses in the country. This agreement, which comes into effect on July 1, 2018 and runs until June 30, 2020, has been reached after negotiations between NZNO and District Health Boards (DHBs).
The key features of the agreement include a pay increase of at least 3 percent per year for the next two years for all nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants covered by the MECA. Additionally, an extra step has been added to the top of the nurses’ pay scale, meaning that senior nurses will be earning even more than before.
Another important factor of the MECA is that the majority of the nursing workforce, including mental health and public health nurses, will be covered under the agreement. This will ensure that all nurses will be receiving the same benefits and protections, regardless of their area of specialty.
The MECA also includes provisions for addressing workload and staffing issues, particularly in emergency departments and mental health services. This includes the creation of a new “escalation protocol” to be used when staffing reaches critical levels, as well as a commitment to review staffing levels in emergency departments and mental health services within the first six months of the agreement.
In addition to these specific provisions, the MECA also includes a range of clauses related to professional development, health and safety, and employment conditions. This includes provisions for cultural safety and anti-discrimination training, support for staff affected by domestic violence, and the introduction of a new “Wellness Hour” for staff to use for self-directed wellness activities.
Overall, the NZNO MECA agreement 2018 represents a significant step forward for nurses in New Zealand. With the inclusion of additional pay and staffing provisions, as well as protections for all nurses regardless of specialty, the MECA is set to ensure that nursing remains an attractive and well-supported profession in the country.