Tuesday 9 August 2005
MEDIA RELEASE
ATTENTION: INDUSTRIAL/HEALTH REPORTERS

Child Youth & Family Strike Requires Govt Funding

“National Union of Public Employees (NUPE) members working for the Department of Child Youth & Family (CYF) have been asked to support nationwide industrial action in CYF starting tomorrow, Wednesday 10 August” said NUPE Organiser John Kerr.

John Kerr said that NUPE members have been informed that the Public Service Association will commence an escalating campaign of industrial action tomorrow, including a work to rule, culminating in rolling and prolonged strikes in two weeks time. “NUPE members are contacting the Union to ask what is their position if under contingency planning procedures they are asked to cover for the striking workers,” he said.

“The Public Service Association covers social workers and support staff in CYF as does NUPE. NUPE supports significant increases in pay for these workers and is instructing members that the law entitles them to support the strike by not undertaking tasks that the PSA members are refusing to do”, said John Kerr.

“NUPE members in CYF are seeking a 30% catch-up wage rise for all CYF workers including clerical and administration staff who are often below the poverty line,” said John Kerr. “The Government needs to recognise their responsibility for the low pay in the public sector and step in to prevent ongoing disruption to services instead of continuing to wash their hands of their responsibility to all to staff and clients”, said John Kerr”

ENDS

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