8 June 2004

Christchurch Mental Health Strike On After Mediation Fails

National Union of Public Employees (NUPE) members who work for private mental health provider Richmond Fellowship will be on strike for two days this weekend (12 and 13 June) after mediation facilitated by the Department of Labour failed this afternoon.

“Richmond Fellowship made no move from their previous position of a ‘Clayton’s Collective’ excluding pay. NUPE and the Service and Food Workers’ Union (SFWU) has been trying to negotiate a fair and just collective agreement since before Christmas for our members who are paid as little as $11 an hour and get no shift leave or weekend allowances. “ said NUPE Organiser John Kerr.

“This employer is paying poverty line wages that force staff to work long hours to make ends meet. We know those on low incomes get more of just about everything that is bad: it’s a scandal that Richmond Fellowship, an employer that is supposedly doing ‘good works’, treats its workers so badly, “ said John Kerr

“Naturally we’re disappointed that the mediation failed but our members are resolute. We’ll be looking to take our message to the public with a rally in Cathedral Square at 2.00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon and we’re working with our sister union, the SFWU, to extend the action across New Zealand” ”, said John Kerr.

ENDS

© Scoop Media