Good turnout expected at Child, Youth and Family strike tomorrow

The Public Service Association (PSA) is expecting a good turnout at rallies across the country tomorrow by more than 2,000 striking Child, Youth and Family social workers and support staff.

A last minute bid to avert the strike in mediation talks failed late this afternoon when Child, Youth and Family refused to present a revised pay offer. PSA members are seeking pay parity with their social worker colleagues in the health sector and to delink their pay and performance management systems.

Social work staff employed by the Department have not had an increase to their pay scales since 2001 and the last increase to administrative and other support staff pay rates was in 2003.

PSA National Secretary Richard Wagstaff said members regret taking industrial action but feel they have no other option left open to them.

“Child, Youth and Family staff deserve to be paid fair wages which reflect the critical job they do and the salaries they could earn doing similar work elsewhere in the state sector.

“The Department is burying it’s head in the sand if it thinks our members will back away from their resolve to see a fair pay system instituted.

“We are expecting good turnouts at rallies across the country tomorrow (for details of pickets see the attached sheet).

“New Zealanders will be inconvenienced by the strike action tomorrow and of course our members regret that. That’s why we remain ready and willing to return to the negotiating table at any time to settle this dispute settled, but to settle it the Department will have to increase the pay offer and drop its obsession with performance pay,” Richard Wagstaff said.

Pickets and other planned activity

Kaitaia

10am-12pm – picket at Remembrance Park

Kaikohe:

10am-12pm – picket at CYF office (Memorial Avenue)

Auckland:

10-11am – picket at traffic lights outside Motat (cnr Stadium and Gt. North Rd)

11-11.30 – march to Western Springs Garden Hall, strikers to be addressed by PSA National Secretary Richard Wagstaff and Karen Young (CYF national delegate and member of the negotiation team)

11.30 – march to traffic lights to resume picket

Hamilton:

11am – picket outside the CYF city office (cnr Anglesea and Collingwood streets), finishing with a march at 1pm to Grantham Street Park.

Rotorua (includes members from Tokoroa and Taupo):

11am-1pm – picket outside CYF office (Pukuatua Street)

New Plymouth:

12-1pm – picket outside CYF office (Tasman Towers, Gill Street)

Tauranga:

11am-1pm – picket outside CYF office (Mclean Street)

Whakatane:

11am-1pm – picket outside government building (Pyne Street)

Hastings (Napier staff will be joining the picket in Hastings):

10am-1pm – picket outside Hastings CYF office (cnr Lyndon Road and Warren Street)

Wanganui:

8.30am-4pm – picket outside CYF office (Victoria Avenue)

Palmerston North:

8am – picketing outside the Lower North Youth Justice Centre (Mohaka Place) and the Palmerston North CYF office (cnr Grey and Rangitikei streets)

Wellington:

11am – march from PSA House (Aurora Terrace) to CYF National Office (Bowen State Building) where strikers will be addressed by PSA Assistant Secretary Basil Prestidge and Collen Boyer (CYF national delegate and member of the negotiating team)

Nelson:

12noon – gathering outside CYF office (Bridge Street), followed by leafleting of the city

Christchurch:

10am – gather at Latimer Square for march to CYF city office (195 Hereford Street) and then on to CYF Sydenham office (cnr Elgin & Colombo streets), before returning to Latimer Square via the city office

Dunedin:

11.30am – march from PSA House (cnr Princes and Jetty streets) to the Octagon. Strikers addressed by PSA national delegate Shahmay Smith

Invercargill:

8.30-10.30am – picket outside CYF Invercargill office (Menzies Building, The Crescent)

© Scoop Media