The majority of the action has been moved indoors in anticipation of violent weather today although dozens of workers waving placards were outside the University of Otago this morning.
Essential public service workers are striking today in response to poor working conditions and insufficient pay.
In Balclutha, about 70 people, mostly teachers and some school children, rallied beside SH1 as part of the strike.
“The purpose of our striking today is kotahitanga — unity …putting forward to the government what we’re fighting for which is work conditions, fair pay and quality education for our tamariki,” Dunedin NZEI teacher's union representative Jen Jeffery said,
South Otago High School teacher and PTA branch chair Toby Swallow told the crowd: “We are proud to stand alongside other public service workers today to tell this government that New Zealanders deserve the very best in education, in healthcare and in all the other essential services we provide.”
Both acknowledged public servants' pay came from taxes but neither commented on what other public sectors might be affected for their demands to be funded.
"For me it's more about work conditions and pastoral care," Mr Swallow said, "It's hard to teach children who aren't attending, haven't eaten properly or have specialised mental health needs."
In Invercargill a fiery and frustrated crowd of nearly 1000 people representing education and health services, filled ILT Stadium this afternoon.
PSA delegate from Allied Health Science Stacey Muir said the strike showed the message to the government that they had had enough and they just wanted to deliver a proper public service.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand rep Aaron Ramsay said they stood in solidarity because they were sick of the government's under-investment in society.
Weather warnings
Severe weather warnings, including a red strong wind warning for coastal Southland and Clutha, have been issued across the region, and there are orange rain warnings for the headwaters of the Otago lakes and rivers, the headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers, Westland and Fiordland.
More than 100,000 essential workers were expected to strike nationwide, and Public Service Association national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said changes were made because safety was the most important consideration.
Sterilising supply technician Toby Stoddart said striking was all about standing up for a properly funded health system.
"Presently in the Sterile Services in Dunedin, we’ve been chronically underfunded, working in a workplace which is unfit for service.
"Our theatre sterile unit is stuck in a corridor with poor ventilation. We’re understaffed and overworked, but very committed to ensuring patients get the best of care."
Public Service Minister Judith Collins has criticised the strike action as "unfair, unproductive and unnecessary".
"We have listened to the unions and made fair offers at the limits of the government’s ability to make affordable settlements," Ms Collins said.
"Dragging these negotiations out with industrial action is cruel to those people who were due to have surgery or vital consultations. It is disruptive for senior school students about to face exams.
"It is irritating for families with younger school children and it is costing the unions’ own members, who not only lose a day’s pay but also delay settlements which will not be backdated."
Strike events include:
• Queenstown at St Peter’s Church, 11am to 1pm.
• Balclutha at Te Pou, 11am to 1pm.
• Gore at Eccles St playground for a march to the Trout — and a rally at noon.
• Invercargill at ILT Stadium Southland, 11am-1.30pm.
• Dunedin workers will meet at the Edgar Centre at 11.45am, for a rally to start at noon and finish at 1.30pm.
