Official recognition of their tough job has delighted Dunedin IHC community support workers Rachael Johnson and Duane Norrie, who are celebrating achieving hourly pay on sleepover shifts for care workers.
Legislation working through Parliament will see the minimum wage gradually introduced for sleepovers, with provision for six years' backpay. The legislation followed last month's settlement with the Government after years of legal wrangling.
Ms Johnson, a sole parent of two children, said the settlement was "brilliant".
Ms Johnson, who is also a relief primary school teacher, was sick of hearing care workers wanted to be "paid for sleeping".
She did one sleepover a week, and the $34 allowance did not cover the inconvenience, the need for child care arrangements, and time taken to get back to sleep after assisting someone (carers are paid if woken for help).
Sleepover carers might have to deal with serious incidents, just as they did in the daytime.
Both Ms Johnson and Mr Norrie had been physically attacked on the job, and dealt with medical emergencies such as seizures.
Mr Norrie did six to nine sleepovers a fortnight. Because they were not popular, he was in high demand for them, and he looked forward to more nights at home when the shifts were better paid.
He took issue with the low value society placed on care work, as people did not realise how highly skilled carers were, including formal qualifications.
"I would like to ask a politician to come and do my job for a day."
Caring for people with intellectual and physical disabilities was a job done for "love not money".
Workers had strong relationships with their charges, and Mr Norrie hoped the extra pay would result in less staff turnover.
Exact financial implications of the legislation were yet to be confirmed, but an approximate calculation indicated he would be eligible for about $21,000 backpay for his six years with Idea Services, the service provider arm of IHC.
SWFU organiser Ann Galloway said the past few weeks had been exciting for the country's care workers, who had achieved greater recognition for their work through the agreement.
• At today's Southern District Health Board meeting, acting chief executive Lexie O'Shea's report warns that community agencies the DHB has contracted for care work over the past six years may ask for extra funding to cover backpay. The Government has promised to foot part of the bill.
