Community Support workers to strike over wage freeze

Over 3000 community support workers employed by IHC, New Zealand's largest provider of services to people with intellectual disability, will strike on Friday (27 November) in protest at their employer's nil wages offer.
 
Service and Food Workers Union National Secretary John Ryall said the workers, who represent the invisible army of support that allows New Zealanders with intellectual disability to live an ordinary life, will strike between 11.30 a.m. and 8.30 p.m.
 
"Friday's protest strike is not just about their employer's proposed wage freeze but about a deliberate government policy of expecting low paid state-funded workers to shoulder the burden of the economic recession."
 
"A recent job evaluation of disability support workers showed that the IHC workers, who are paid as low as $14.20 an hour, are between 20-40% underpaid."
 
"The current wage freeze policy will do nothing to address the underpayment of these workers and will not provide a better service for people with intellectual disability," said John Ryall.
 
The IHC workers will join other low-paid state and state-funded workers in NZ Council of Trade Unions-organised rallies being held from Kaitaia to Invercargill on Friday.

ENDS

For more information or comment contact John Ryall on 027 520 1380.