The Health Minister's admitting his decision to request Heath NZ and the senior doctors union go to arbitration is unusual. 

Heath NZ's agreed to participate in arbitration in an effort to resolve 12 months of collective agreement negotiations. 

The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists is yet to respond. 

Minister Simeon Brown says his request comes after the union indicated it's looking at striking.

"I guess it's unusual in that I'm asking both parties to come to the table. I've formally written to them, but I have been saying for some time that we have to negotiate these deals. Striking's not the answer."

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