`Worried about our resident': Oceania staff cancel strike

MEDIA RELEASE: NEW ZEALAND NURSES ORGANISATION AND SERVICE AND FOOD WORKERS UNION NGA RINGA TOTA
9 April 2012
"We're worried about our residents." Oceania staff cancel strikes.
Concern about the standards of care being provided to elderly residents in their absence has caused union members to cancel strike action planned for 11 and 12 April.

“Both unions gave extended notice of industrial action so Oceania would have plenty of time to make arrangements, but we are becoming increasingly concerned that Oceania has not cared for its residents," said spokesperson for the Service and Food Workers Union Nga Ringa Tota (SFWU) and the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) Alastair Duncan.

“We have reports of elderly residents not being fed. We have reports of residents not being showered. We have reports of residents not being cared for, of students being asked to do the work of professionals, of agency staff not responding to residents needs and of non-union cleaning staff being pulled off their duties to do personal cares. None of this is acceptable.

"While members have endorsed further action, we will put this on hold until we can be sure Oceania residents are being properly supported.”

Alastair Duncan said Oceania had spent precious public money on agency staff, who were not familiar with the role and cannot deliver the levels of care required.

“Oceania has hired private security guards and has sought to restrict the rights of residents to speak out in support of staff. The tens of thousands of dollars of public funding now being wasted on hiring cover staff who are not familiar with the residents or their needs should have been used to settle this dispute months ago.”

The two unions will now gather the evidence and approach the Health and Disability Commissioner asking for an investigation into the state of care at Oceania.

“During this time both unions will renew their engagement with residents and the community," said Alastair Duncan. "Staff will return to work but the demand for a fair share for aged care will not change.”

Both unions have also written to health Minister Tony Ryall asking him to investigate why Oceania has not passed on the public funding. No response has yet been received.

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