Source: Workers First Union
WHAT:
Workers First Union members at Biomed Limited will withdraw their labour and take their first full strike action, with a picket taking place outside of the Point Chevalier Library on Friday 2nd October from 12:00pm to 3:30pm.
WHEN:
Friday 2 October, 12:00 – 3:30pm
WHERE:
Point Chevalier Library, 1225 Great North Road, Point Chevalier, Auckland.
WHY:
Liam Bloomfield, Workers First organiser, said that union members at Biomed Ltd. are an integral part of the public health system who create life-saving products for those in labour, going through surgery, as well as pre-term tamariki.
“Biomed workers are paid such low wages that many are having to consider a change of career,” said Mr Bloomfield. “They are skilled, dedicated, and want to continue the highly specialised work they do in supporting the highest risk patients in our hospital system.”
“Many of them start off earning just over minimum wage, despite being expected to hold the lives of our tamariki, rangatahi, and kaumatua in their hands.”
“This is the first time many of our members at Biomed have voted for a full strike action, and they do so only after exhausting every other option available to them.”
“Biomed has completely rejected any financial improvement for workers as part of these negotiations, offering instead them a functional pay cut during the cost-of-living crisis.”
“We would love to see the community come along to support these workers and tell Biomed that they deserve to be valued.”