Alliance backs IHC workers pay claim

The Alliance Party wonders if IHC Chief Executive Ralph Jones actually knows what his frontline workers are paid.

Alliance Party industrial spokesperson Trevor Hanson says there is strong concern at Mr Jones response to industrial action by IHC staff in support of a paltry 2% pay increase.

Mr Jones was reported as saying "the (SFWU) Union is out of step with most New Zealand workers who are feeling the effects of the tough economic climate." (Otago Daily Times, Wednesday 7 April 2010).

Mr Hanson says IHC workers are amongst the lowest paid in the country.

"The basic rate for IHC workers is $14.20 per hour for hours actually worked and around $30 in total for the 8 hours sleepover that workers are required to do as part of in addition to their working shifts."

"If any workers are feeling the effects of the tough economic climate it would have to be IHC workers," says Mr Hanson.

"This is why they are so desperate to get their 2% pay rise that they have begun industrial action, something almost unheard of in the disability sector."

The IHC is virtually fully government funded. If the IHC cannot afford to pay its workers a living wage they should address this with their funders – the Government – not criticize their workers for asking for an extremely modest pay increase.

ENDS

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