Union vs Union
A scrap between medical unions:
Ian Powell, executive director of the senior doctors union, defended the “inalienable right to strike” in a weekend speech. But he said it was being misused, and therefore undermined – to the detriment of patients’ safety – by unions clustered around Deborah and Terry Powell’s company, Contract Negotiation Services (CNS).
Ian Powell is certainly not the first person to note the effect of Deborah Powell on the health system – her unions do tend to strike without fail.
Ian Powell characterises the CNS unions as “bargaining agents”, in contrast to the “broader-based unionism” of his own organisation.
He told a dental conference on Saturday that bargaining agents focused on what they could “scratch out” of the health system, while unions like his also focused on what they could put into it.
“Regardless of motivation, seeing patients as weapons is an inevitable consequence of a bargaining-agent approach, whereas the broader unionism approach sees them as natural allies.”
Not unfair criticisms.
Deborah Powell accused Ian Powell of hypocrisy, saying his own union had come close to strike action.
“I suspect his motivation is to support the Labour Government, as the CTU unions seek to do.”
Also not unfair criticisms back.
I actually don’t like it when unions fight each other as it is just like the Iran-Iraq war – never knowing what side to back 
July 28th, 2008 at 8:18 am
I saw the Iran-Iraq war at first hand in 1987 training Iraqi artillery. The wastage of human life was immense, and the callous arrogant stupidity of the leaders- not a bad metaphor for unions, indeed…
July 28th, 2008 at 8:34 am
Based on that exchange, the first round was easily 1-0 to Deborah Powell.
It is easy for the old doctors to criticise – they had free tertiary education, while today’s young medics graduate with huge student debts. If the graduates aren’t paid enough to make that equation worthwhile, they will inevitably move off-shore to better paid jobs and where they are more appreciated – a total waste of NZ taxpayers money.
July 28th, 2008 at 11:57 am
As someone on the sharp end and a member of Mr Powell’s Band of Brothers all I can report is that the Senior Docs were
lead into voting for strike action if needed (by a massive majority) and as talks gradually dragged on and as the election got closer the docs were then rapidly lead into accepting a three year settlement (such long settlements previously criticised by Mr Powell) and a 4.25% annual deal (previously we had been offered close to this and had rejected it on Mr Powell’s advice). He thinks his Union is difficult for the DHB’s/Government to deal with but from the coal face they are increasingly seen as patsies of the Labour Party and complete roll-over surrender monkeys. All power to Deborah and the RDA. She has seriously improved junior doc working conditions and pay. I wish we had her.
July 28th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
How very unfortunate that Unions cant agree ☠