Silent Protest At Cdhb Meeting Over Rrs

“NUPE will be conducting a silent protest at tomorrow’s CDHB meeting over the Board’s refusal to allow a submission on the closing and contracting out of four halfway houses for about forty mentally ill patients,” said John Kerr, Organiser of the National Union of Public Employees (NUPE) today. “Our protest will note that everyone on the Board has one mouth but two ears and democracy works best when they are used in that proportion.”

“The Board’s refusal to listen to us has led NUPE to call a public meeting on 1 September where this and the issue of $30m cuts which underlie the RRS decision will be openly debated,” said John Kerr. “There is a sad irony in this as the re-creation of Health Boards was to give local people back a say in their own health decisions.”

“NUPE is aiming to talk directly to the public of Canterbury in its campaign called “HEALTH CUTS HURT”,” said John Kerr.

“At stop work meetings this week members unanimously approved the union collecting a levy to support our “HEALTH CUTS HURT” Campaign (including the media strategy and compensation to RRS Staff for any direct action).”

Mr Kerr said that the Board meeting started at 9am tomorrow at the Council Chambers and NUPE members would stage their protest during the CEO’s report immediately after it starts.

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