Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation
On Monday, health care workers in Canterbury Waitaha will protest the ongoing, almost eight-year delay in the payment of their holiday pay and other leave owed to them.
At 12 noon, members of New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) will gather opposite Christchurch Hospital’s ED/Waipapa building to voice their frustrations against the delays in the Holidays Act remediation payments.
NZNO Christchurch delegate Allister Dietschin called on Te Whatu Ora to make the payouts as soon as possible and urged the Government to make the employer set a deadline and stick to it.
“Te Whatu Ora had previously been told by the Government that they expected this work to be finished by the middle of 2023, but here we are seven months later, and they are still dragging the chain.
“More than 302,000 workers are being owed about $2b, but the length of time this has taken, and fresh delays are unacceptable.
“To make matters worse, last year Te Whatu Ora removed expected remediation dates from their reporting, leaving workers blind as to when they are going to be finally paid.
“This demonstrates a lack of respect from their employer.
“Canterbury Waitaha members are exasperated with the excuses Te Whatu Ora keeps making about payroll dysfunctions, they just want to be paid what they are owed.
“Imagine the frustration of having to wait nearly eight years after being told your employer was non-compliant and paid you incorrectly for your leave, you’re expecting reimbursement but are consistently being told to wait longer. We still have no idea when we will actually be paid.
“This treatment of its staff only reflects how little regard Te Whatu Ora has for their health and wellbeing, especially with the cost of living increasing, placing more financial stress on those trying to make
