A long-running aged-care wage dispute has been settled, with union members at Redroofs Rest Home in Dunedin accepting 3.22%.
The settlement ends a nine-month dispute between aged-care group Oceania Group, and two unions - the New Zealand Nurses Organisation, and the Service and Food Workers Union (SFWU).
Redroofs SFWU delegate Vicki Taylor said the settlement was a "good deal", although not "great".
In lieu of nearly a year's back pay, members accepted lump sums of $350 (full-time workers) and $225 (part-time workers).
Members felt buoyed by recent publicity generated by the Human Rights Commission report that labelled sector pay rates a breach of human rights, Mrs Taylor said.
The publicity had raised public awareness of the sector's low pay rates.
Members would pursue another strong bargaining process next year, she said.
In a press release, SFWU spokesman Alastair Duncan said the settlement, which locked in the 3.22% pay rise for 1500 union members, also protected overtime and other worker rights.
"The key issue in this dispute was getting government money passed on to the workforce and we are pleased that Oceania has now understood the need to pass on the funding it receives from district health boards to the care staff," Mr Duncan said.
