Private hospital staff strike for four hours over pay, living costs

Striking Grace Hospital staff dressed in purple clothing, hats, scarves and wigs walked off the job today.

The industrial action by New Zealand Nurses Organisation nurses and support staff is believed to be the first in the hospital’s history.

Many of the striking workers were waving placards with messages including “disGRACEful we deserve better”, “fair pay to all staff” and “dying for a pay rise”.

Strikers stood outside the hospital entrance chanting “workers’ pay is under attack and we’re standing up fighting back” as cars drove by and tooted their horns in support.

Next, the strikers hopped on a bus to Barkes Corner to continue their protest.

Grace Hospital workers striking at the Barkes Corner pedestrian bridge. Photo / Holly O'Donnell

Drivers on the busy State Highway 29 continued their support for the strikers with a steady stream of loud, enthusiastic honks.

More than 100 unionised workers had planned to strike for four hours today because of rising living costs. Some were reportedly struggling to keep pace with rising household costs, and had been using foodbanks.

The union’s Grace Hospital delegate and Perioperative Nurses College chairwoman Lucy Middleton earlier said rising living costs were affecting all her colleagues, not just clinical staff.

“When you read your pay slip, it looks like you’re getting ahead, but at the checkout and petrol pump you realise you’re falling behind.”

Grace Hospital workers are striking for four hours today. Photo / Holly O'Donnell

Middleton said some Grace staff could not afford petrol to get to work and others had sought help from foodbanks.

“Like most Kiwis, we’re fighting just to stand still.”

The annual inflation rate dropped in the third quarter, the Herald reported today, although economists fear the respite will be temporary.

The consumers price index (CPI) increased 3.7% in the 12 months to the September 2026 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.

Grace Hospital workers are striking for four hours today. Photo / Holly O'Donnell

A statement from the union said most Grace Hospital workers had been offered a 2.5% pay rise.

Middleton said the strike would be the first strike in Grace Hospital’s 40-year history.

The hospital, jointly owned by Evolution Healthcare and Southern Cross Healthcare, offers a variety of surgical and other healthcare services on a 5ha site on Cheyne Rd.

Sandra Conchie is a senior journalist at the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post and has been a journalist for more than 26 years. She mainly covers police, court and other justice stories, as well as general news. She has been a Canon Media Awards regional/community reporter of the year.