Same Work Same Pay:
APEX Laboratory workers strike on Wednesday and Friday
February 3 2025
On Wednesday 5th February and Friday 7th February, APEX laboratory workers employed by privately owned laboratory providers will withdraw all their labour in support of three separate collective bargaining negotiations. The strike will continue for 48 hours and will affect both hospitals and the community services across the country.
APEX has raised a claim for parity with Te Whatu Ora rates of pay in each set of negotiations with Awanui Labs, Pathlab Limited and Medlab(/Tlab) respectively. These employers are mainly funded by Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand) and have rejected APEXs claims for parity on the basis it is unaffordable. As a result, APEX Laboratory workers, who perform an essential role in the diagnosis and treatment of illness, continue to be paid between 28%-32% less than Te Whatu Ora laboratory workers that undertake the same work.
The effect of this wage discrepancy is clear. Laboratory workers are making the jump to Te Whatu Ora and leaving a large portion of the country’s diagnostic services short staffed. As the ability to recruit and retain staff diminishes, so too does the quality of our country’s hospital and community health services.
There are a number of pickets planned, the details for which can be found below,
- 5th February 2025 @ 12:00-13:00, Wellington Hospital, 49 Riddiford Street, Newtown, Wellington 6021
- 5th February 2025 @ 11:00-12:00, Hospital Corner, Hagley Park, 45 Riccarton Avenue, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8011.
- 5th February @ 09:00-10:00, 58 Tristram St, Hamilton 3204
- 5th February @ 10:00-12:00, The Hub Whakatane
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Sam Heimsath
APEX Advocate
Phone: 021 811 878
Email: lab@apex.org.nz
Further information
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.