Idea Services support staff will strike across New Zealand tomorrow to protest against the lack of progress in bargaining for a new collective agreement.
But the operational arm of IHC said the agreement would progress now the Government has announced a pay equity deal.
Etu industry co-ordinator Alastair Duncan said about 3000 Idea Services support and administration staff would strike for an hour from 8.30am tomorrow to protest against the lack of progress in bargaining for a new collective agreement.
Staff wanted to strengthen job security and health and safety rights with Idea Services.
The bargaining began in October last year, when staff were due a pay rise, he said.
Since October, the union worked to try to persuade Idea Services to respond to the concerns of its members and had ''little response'' back, he said.
The staff feared changes could result in working hours being slashed, and staff being forced to work ''anti-social'' shifts.
''Idea is prone to cutting hours of its staff and is now going through a major restructure.''
Last week, the Government announced care workers would get pay rises.
The package would cost more than $2billion over four years and would cover about 55,000 care workers in the aged residential care, home support and disability service sectors.
Mr Duncan said news of the settlement had put the focus on the lack of any pay offer.
''We asked for a small downpayment back in October and have had a resounding 'no offer' ever since. The equal pay settlement will change lives but that is still months away and the needs are now.''
Idea Services chief operating officer Janine Stewart said a collective employment agreement for support workers had not been agreed on.
''Pay equity has been the major reason for the delay. Now that an announcement has been made we hope to be able to agree a collective soon. We continue to meet with the union in good faith and Idea Services has plans in place to ensure no-one we support is adversely affected by strike action.''
A public meeting about issues in the disability services sector would be held at the Caversham Baptist Church in Surrey St, Dunedin, from 7pm today.
Those expected to attend include staff from Idea Services, Health Ministry, Healthcare NZ, Etu and Access Ability.
