News release issued by Stuart Leck, Christchurch

Rosebank Resthome operating as usual

News release
12March 2009

Rosebank Resthome and Hospital in Ashburton will be operating as usual during the planned 24-hour strike of 30 of the home’s 130 carers tomorrow (Friday), with residents being unaffected said Director Mr Stuart Leck of Christchurch.

“I can assure residents and their families that the home’s high standard of care will not be affected,” said Mr Leck.

Rosebank has been told that about 30 caregivers who are members of the union called New Zealand Nurses Organisation are planning to go on strike on this coming Friday for twenty-four hours, until 06.45am on Saturday.

“We know that our staff provide a wonderful standard of care and we’d like to be in a position to pay more, as we have been able to do each year in the past with up to 15% increases in some cases.

“In fact these past increases have impacted on our ability to offer increases this year,” said Mr Leck.

“I’m quite disappointed by the breakdown in talks with the 30 carers who are members of the union.

“I have committed to them that we will be in a position to consider making a revised offer in July,” said Mr Leck.

Although the members of the union had a right to take action as they saw fit, Mr Leck said Rosebank was in a similar situation to a lot of employers who needed to control costs and consequently were not able to offer increases to staff.

“The current economic situation is as difficult for rest homes as it is for anyone else, especially in the area of steeply rising costs for electricity and medicines,” said Mr Leck.

ENDS

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