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Members of the Service & Food Workers Union Nga Ringa Tota will stop work for 2 hours this week following the refusal of their employer to pass on government funding. Despite two days of bargaining and the claim made this week by the Healthcare Providers of New Zealand that no workers would be disadvantaged, at least two Wellington rest homes appear to be holding back the full government funding of $1 per hour says SFWU spokesperson Phil Metuariki. Workers at Johnsonvale Rest Home will stop work for 2 hours in a symbolic move aimed at reminding management of the importance of carers and support staff being valued by their employer. The Johnsonvale workers will be taking their frustrations to the streets and will be picketing from 2. 30pm - 4. 30pm tomorrow on the corner of Middleton & Frankmore Road, Johnsonville. “Johnsonvale seems to be adopting the role of Mr Scrooge and treating the staff as if they were Tiny Tim“. Mr Metuariki says it will be a difficult Christmas for a workforce that would rather care for residents than take action but with Johnsonvale’s balance sheet looking healthy, staff are faced with little options. Kemp Home and Hospital in Porirua will also stop work for 2 hours on Friday 14 December in order to show their frustrations at their employer Mission Residential Care Ltd which is a subsidiary of the Wellington City Mission. Again like Johnsonvale Resthome, Kemp Home & Hospital is holding back the full government funding of $1 per hour. The Kemp Home & Hospital workers will also be taking to the streets and picketing from 2. 30pm - 4. 30pm Friday 14 th December on the corner of Main Road & Kura Street, Titahi Bay, Porirua. “Last week the high court ruled that government money should go to workers but challenged the process. Whether these employer’s are the first to exploit the courts decision is yet to be seen, but we hope that this is the last“. For more information contact; Phil Metuariki Service and Food Workers Union Nga Ringa Tota |