Tuesday 25 October 2005

MEDIA RELEASE

ATTENTION: INDUSTRIAL/JUSTICE REPORTERS

Disrupted Start for Rolleston Youth Facility a Coincidence

“The timing of the two day strike by NUPE Child Youth and Family workers which has affected the shift of the Christchurch Youth Justice facility is a coincidence,” said Lynda Boyd, Organiser of the National Union of Public Employees (NUPE) today.

She was commenting on Youth Justice residence manager Shirley Johnson’s comments that the strike from Wednesday to Friday this week had thwarted hopes of a smooth shift from Kingslea to Rolleston for the youth corrections facility Te Puna Wai O Tuhinapo also occurring this week.

“Negotiations have been underway since May with previous strike action occurring over a month ago,” said Lynda Boyd. “Last ditch mediation failed to settle the dispute last week and so the strike is proceeding.”

“The fact is that the majority of NUPE CYFS members in Christchurch work at Kingslea and will be transferring to the two new facilities one at Rolleston and another at Kingslea,” said Lynda Boyd. “Another large group of members work at Weymouth which is the Auckland youth corrections facility.”

“NUPE members in these two facilities alongside CYFS workers in Auckland, Wellington, Napier and Christchurch will be rallying over the next two days protesting the unequal treatment for administrative workers,” said Lynda Boyd.

“Social Workers want the support staff who must front up to the anger and difficulties of families or whanau arising from CYFS actions, to receive the same percentage increases as they get.”

ENDS

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