Redroofs' workers to strike

Workers at Dunedin's Redroofs Rest Home voted yesterday to continue with strike action, Service and Food Workers Union (SFWU) organiser Ann Galloway said.

Oceania Group had increased its wage offer, although it was not formally put to members at yesterday's two-hour stopwork meeting, Mrs Galloway said.

The company offer increased from 1% to 1.72%, the same as the government funding increase, but the union wanted it back-dated to last July.

Next year's offer had increased from 1% to 1.48%, but the unions wanted it to start in July, rather than next February.

Oceania had dropped its demand to cut overtime rates from time and a-half, to time and a-quarter, she said.

Mrs Galloway said she was surprised by the lack of public awareness over how private companies ran the aged-care sector for maximum profit, rather than caring for residents and workers.

Workers would strike on Monday from 3am to 7am, 9am to 1pm, and 4pm to 8pm, she said.

Oceania Group chief executive Guy Eady, in a statement, urged workers to consider the "full merits" of the company's offer, which was made in good faith to resolve a difficult situation.

"We own 59 facilities throughout New Zealand that provide a high standard of care to elderly residents. We want business to get back to normal, and our improved offer reflects our desire to do that."

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation is also involved in the action.

 

 

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