Source: PSA
Around 250 PSA members working at care provider Nurse Maude are on strike today in the face of no pay offer and attempts to cut to their sick leave by two days.
Nurse Maude provides community nursing, home support, hospice, and palliative care, and its workers go above and beyond to deliver this care to our communities.
“These workers already faced a massive blow when their pay equity claim was cancelled, now this employer is trying to reduce sick leave. It is irresponsible,” said Melissa Woolley, Assistant Secretary for the Public Service Association, Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“Sick leave is not a luxury. It is an absolute necessity for this workforce, these home support workers visit multiple homes daily, caring for the most vulnerable people in our communities.
“Forcing them choose between going to work while unwell or face losing income is dangerous for them and the people they care for.
“The striking workers are taking a stand for all working New Zealanders who rely on sick leave when they are unwell. We cannot let employers get away with reducing our already low minimum entitlements.
“Nurse Maude is out of step with other publicly funded employers who are not looking to cut back already low sick leave entitlements.
“The Coalition Government – New Zealand First, National and ACT – as part of their neo-Liberal agenda have driven through legislation that reduces job security, wages, sick leave and holds leave entitlements and will make workers less safe at work.
“New Zealand is watching this dispute. We are already receiving strong messages of support from local doctors, families, and community members who do not agree with Nurse Maude’s stance and want to stand with these workers.
“Nurse Maude herself spent her life fighting for the sick and poor of Christchurch, and for better conditions for nurses. She would be appalled that the organisation carrying her name is now trying to cut sick leave for the workers doing that same work today.
“We want to resolve this. Nurse Maude needs to withdraw this senseless claim, respect the bargaining process, and come back to the table with a fair offer.”
Strikes are planned for two days 7am-10am on 31 July and 10 August in the following locations: Upper Hutt, Lower Hutt, Wellington, Porirua, Kāpiti, Nelson, Motueka, Blenheim, Rangiora, Christchurch, Lincoln.
Picket events on Friday 31 July are as follows:
- Petone – 8.30am – The Petone Esplanade. Near the Heretaunga Boating Club (138 The Esplanade, Petone, Lower Hutt)
- Porirua – 8.30am – Across from North City Shopping Centre. Corner of Titahi Bay Road and Hagley Street, Porirua
- Nelson – 8am – Outside Nurse Maude’s Offices (Nayland side of building) 4 Kidson Place, Stoke, Nelson
- Christchurch – 8.30am – Cnr Papanui Road & Mansfield Ave, Merivale (close to Nurse Maude’s Mansfield Ave premises).
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.