12 December 2011

Hundreds of low paid aged care workers to hit the streets today

There will be a mass walkout from sites from Whangarei to Dunedin by the staff of one of New Zealand’s biggest aged care providers, Radius Residential, today from 1.30pm – 3.30pm.

The nurses, caregivers and service workers from 20 Radius facilities will attend stopwork meetings and protest actions to send a message their employer over stalled pay talks.

Radius is the lowest payer in the aged care sector, starting caregivers on the minimum wage. Radius caregivers receive an average hourly pay of around $14.

Radius has also failed to pass on to workers government funding intended for wages for the past two years, despite a promise to do so. Other providers in the aged care sector have passed on the funding.

Radius has been in bargaining with SFWU and NZNO for three months. The two unions represent 70% of the 1,000 strong workforce.

Last week Radius refused to attend negotiations and the company is only attending this week because of the requirements of mediation.

“Radius is one of the biggest players in aged care in New Zealand, but is the worst payer,” said NZNO spokesperson Rob Haultain. “Their workforce is highly unionised but they consistently refuse to negotiate.”

“These workers do one of the hardest jobs in the country, caring for our most vulnerable,” said SFWU spokesperson Sam Jones. “But they are facing another Christmas on the lowest possible pay rates.”

ENDS

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