Idea Services workers to strike again

Idea Services staff picket outside the Dunedin office last month. Photo: Peter McIntosh
Idea Services staff picket outside the Dunedin office last month. Photo: Peter McIntosh
In a continuing bid for better pay and working conditions, Dunedin's Idea Services support and administration workers will go on strike for a third time on Monday.

It follows failed mediation on May 8, when Idea Services negotiators walked out of union negotiations with no resolution in sight.

Up to 50 Dunedin staff, who are E tu union members, will walk off the job between 3.30pm and 4.40pm.

Members have agreed to return to mediation before the end of May, but E tu industry co-ordinator Alastair Duncan said it was unclear if Idea Services negotiators would turn up.

He said further strike notices had been issued for a fourth one-hour strike on May 31.

About 40 Idea Services staff picketed outside their King Edward St office, in Dunedin, early last month.

They were among about 3000 Idea Services support staff who provide care for intellectually disabled people in the country's Idea Services residential care homes.

Support staff are fed up with chronic understaffing which left them feeling overworked and undervalued.

They are tired of working long hours, including weekends, and they wanted better pay to compensate for time away from their families.

There is also concern about plans to move support staff from house to house, to create more flexibility.

Staff say their clients were not coping with the constant changes in their carers, and it was resulting in staff being verbally and physically abused by their clients.

Idea Services provides support to about 4000 people with intellectual disabilities.

 - john.lewis@odt.co.nz

Add a Comment

 

Advertisement