Strike Action At Rest Home

Strike Action At Rest Home

Unite Union Press Release – 8 November 2008

Union members at Maddison Residential Care in Karori are taking strike action over the weekend after the breakdown of collective agreement negotiations and allegations that residents and staff are being bullied by the management of the facility.

Incidents of bullying at the care facility have seen an unusually high turn over of staff and have also drawn complaints from residents. Last week union members wrote an open letter to residents and families explaining why they would be resorting to taking strike action and encouraging residents to report any incidents of bullying to their Health and Disability advocate.

Negotiations for a new collective agreement broke down this month after strained negotiations and stalling from management that has seen the negotiations drag out for 8 months. The main sticking point has been around the caregivers claim for a minimum start rate of $15 an hour.

“Caregivers at Maddison are paid only $14 an hour and have an extremely difficult job. These are the people that we trust with some of our most vulnerable members of society and it is such a shame that they are not valued for the great work that they do” says Unite union organiser Duncan Allan. “We've left these facilities in the hands of private interests who seem to be involved in the industry for no other reason than making money. Complaints are ignored, wages are kept low and turnover is high. It doesn't benefit the residents and it doesn't benefit the workers.”

Union members will be taking strike action on Saturday at 12pm and Sunday at 4pm outside Maddison Residential Care facility, 11 Messines road, Karori.

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