Caregivers, nurses and service workers employed by New Zealand's largest rest home chain Oceania are going on strike today.
Up to 1500 workers at 20 of the 58 rest homes throughout New Zealand including workers in Paeroa will strike from 8.30am to 10.30am.
Oceania owns Melrose Lifestyle Care and Village and Elmswood Rest Home in Waihi Road, Aspen Rest Home in McLean Street, and Ohinemuri Rest Home in Paeroa.
Workers at Tauranga branches will not be striking, but are supporting their union counterparts in hopes of achieving a pay rise to combat rising living costs.
The strike action by members of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation and Service Workers Union comes after eight months of bargaining with Oceania to meet their claims of a 3.5 per cent pay rise.
Oceania is only offering one per cent a year for three years.
Union spokesperson Alastair Duncan says Oceania staff are receiving strong support from residents and their families and were taking the action at a time that minimised disruption.
'Our members go the extra mile for residents every day, but Oceania refuses to make a fair pay offer and has clearly underestimated the determination of their staff.”
Alistair says further strike action at other Oceania owned rest homes is possible if today's industrial action is not successful.
4 comments
They deserve a medal
Posted on 01-03-2012 08:43 | By Colleen Spiro
The carers deserve a medal, each and every one of them....Quite often, they make calls of doctors and nurses. They also look after our loved ones as if they are their own. That standard should be recognised in their wages. It is disgraceful.
put the wages up
Posted on 01-03-2012 10:24 | By traceybjammet
how about no wage raise for coucilers and the like and wages go up for the real workers
Yes they deserve better
Posted on 01-03-2012 13:21 | By Countrygirl
The carers of our eldery in these resthomes do deserve a medal. They are very underappreciated and underpaid by their employers. I am very grateful to those that love our older folk who have given us younger folk so much.
the old dears will barely notice
Posted on 01-03-2012 17:04 | By pomfart
Pointless strike. The old dears will get brekkie and be wiped clean and in the chair by 8.30 ready for a snooze. Wake up at 10.30 ready for a cuppa and the workers will be just returning from the strike to make it. Why not strike all day and let the old dears fend for themselves? It won't do them any harm.
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