Unionised lab workers at Awanui and Medlab are taking strike action, after rejecting a recommendation from the Employment Relations Authority

The APEX union has issued notice for a full withdrawal of labour.

It says the authority's recommendation -- including two three-percent salary increases this year, and a 500-dollar lump payment -- isn't sufficient.

APEX National Secretary Deborah Powell says the strikes will have an impact across the health system.

She says it will be slower for a doctor to discharge or properly diagnose a patient without timely test results.