The PSA is calling on the country’s largest kaupapa Māori community disability provider Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau Trust to accept an Employment Relations Authority (ERA) Facilitator’s recommendation to settle a collective agreement.

Te Roopu Taurima operates residential whare in Te Tai Tokerau/Northland, Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland, Waikato, Waitaha/Canterbury, and a residential mental health whare in Whangārei.

Following 11 days of bargaining and four days in ERA facilitation, Te Roopu Taurima is yet to agree to the Facilitators’ recommendations to settle the collective agreement for its Kaitaataki and Poutaakai staff members, says Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Secretary Kerry Davies.

Kaitaataki and Poutaaki are the leaders in disability residential whare and are key to ensuring tangata receive the best support to enable good lives.

"Kaitaataki and Poutaataki continue to be subject to a lockout of additional hours, despite how this can affect tangata, kaiawhina (support workers they lead) and their own whānau," Davies says.

"Our members, many of whom are Māori, Pasifika, and migrant workers, have reported losses in earnings of hundreds of dollars, which as already underpaid workers, they cannot afford.

"At the same time the lockout is resulting in shortages of available staff in some whare. It’s a ridiculous lose-lose situation for Te Roopu Taurima, its workers and the people they care for," Davies says. "It is unusual and baffling as to why Te Roopu Taurima have not accepted the Facilitator's recommendations.

"Both parties have a responsibility to seriously consider and accept the Facilitator's recommendations except in extraordinary circumstances.

"Te Roopu Taurima and its bargaining team, who seem determined to continue a dispute without good cause, are failing the workers and the people who rely on them for support," Davies says.

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