Alliance Party congratulates IHC sleepover workers on night pay victory

7 September 2011

The Alliance Party today congratulated IHC sleepover workers on their historic night pay victory.

Overnight, the Government finally conceded to Service and Food Workers Union (SFWU) demands for a minimum hourly pay rate for all IHC employed sleepover workers and substantial back pay.

This will cost Government $100 million but the Alliance believes this will be taxpayer money well spent, says Alliance Party Disability Issues spokesperson Chris Ford.

“Finally, IHC workers have shamed the Government into spending $100 million on securing their right to overnight pay. After all, National has wasted billions on such things as the Rugby World Cup, new ministerial limousines and bailouts for fat cat corporations. It’s time that ordinary disability sector workers got their fair share,” says Mr Ford.

The Alliance also believes that this victory sends a strong message about the value of disability support workers in our community.

“I and many other disabled people rely on support workers to enable us to live fully independent lives in our community. Their historic undervaluing has to stop and this judgement is hopefully a first step in the right direction. The Alliance Party will continue to support disability support workers in their ongoing struggles for better pay and conditions,” says Mr Ford.

ENDS

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