Hundreds of Doctors in New Zealand Begin Strike Demanding Pay Increase

Hundreds of New Zealand doctors and dentists have declared a two-hour strike demanding a pay increase. According to local media reports, due to the strike by healthcare workers, more than 250 surgeries and interventions had to be canceled in the country's hospitals. This was reported by TACC.

According to the union's statement, the decision was made due to "deadlock negotiations with the government over salary increases." Earlier, the organization had announced that doctors would also strike on September 13 and 21, calling for a salary increase of at least 7-8% and compensation for an actual income decrease of 11% due to inflation.

The New Zealand Ministry of Health has stated that it proposed a fair salary increase (between 6.5% to 10.5%, depending on experience and qualifications), which would increase actual income by about NZD 20,000 (approximately USD 11,800) annually and a one-time bonus pay of NZD 4,000 (about USD 2,400).

However, according to Julian Wyass, the president of the New Zealand Association of Employed Doctors, the salary increase proposed by the government actually means an "effective reduction in wages." "But we want our salaries to match the pace of inflation," he emphasized.

Negotiations between the New Zealand government and the union are expected to resume on September 6.