Idea Services staff get 4.5% pay increase

Idea Services staff get 4.5% pay increase

Over 3000 disability support workers employed by Idea Services have ratified a new Collective Employment Agreement which gives them an average payrise of 4.5%.

"Although we welcome the settlement of this collective agreement, we recognise that the bigger struggle for pay parity with equivalent workers employed by District Health boards is still ahead" said John Ryall, National Secretary of the Service and Food Workers Union Nga Ringa Tota.

DHB healthcare and therapy assistants have a starting pay rate that is at least $1.00 an hour higher than the new Idea Services rate of $14.20/hour and their pay scales mean a gap of over $2.00 an hour emerges after two years service.

The Union believes that this undervaluing of disability support workers is the responsibility of the Government and its funding agency, the Ministry of Health, who have the power to fix the problem.

"All New Zealanders accept that people with disabilities should be given adequate support to live an ordinary life, but don't realise that this support is subsidised by very low pay rates" said John Ryall.

ENDS

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