Up Where We Belong
LATEST IDEA SERVICES NEWS
Southern Regional President Julie Kahaki leads a chant at a protest in Christchurch last year.
Information for Idea Services Members:
Update as of 16 June - The Court of Appeal has agreed to hear an IHC appeal against the Employment Court’s decision that "sleepovers" are work and should be paid at the minimum rate of $12.75 an hour as per the Minimum Wages Act. Read more in our newsletter for members.
Backpay claim
Meanwhile we have filed for arrears of wages for about 1400 IDEA and Timata Hou members in the Employment Relations Authority, which will be parked up on instruction of the Employment Court. This is important because it preserves our members’ claims backdated to six years from the date they were filed. We can add more names into the ERA proceedings but to do so members need to fill out one of our union authority forms and go on to our database in Auckland.
If you have filled a form out and have subsequently moved to another employer we need to know urgently as our authority is only valid providing members remain financial. To update your details ring SFWU Member Support on 0800 UNION1 (0800 864 661).
Newsletters and documents to download
(click on the links to view the files as PDFs)
Join the union campaign to raise the pay and status of disability support work
Residential and home-support services are characterised by low pay, inadequate training and lack of recognition for skills and experience.
Members of the PSA and Service and Food Workers Union are planning to make a difference through a nationwide campaign for decent pay and recognition of qualifications and experience.
SFWU organiser Beryl Kirk says "This campaign is about gaining greater recognition for Disability Support workers and the huge job they do that is undervalued and under paid. The aim is to get increased funding to get pay rates equivalent to the Health care assistants in DHBs"
Show your support for the campaign for decent pay, decent work, decent lives.
Click here to visit the PSA website and read more about our joint campaign.
The two unions have prepared a paper on the disability sector and the issues driving the underpayment of its workers. This was released on 3 December 2010 and is being sent to all Members of Parliament - including Disability Issues Minister Tariana Turia and Health Minister Tony Ryall - and disability sector employers.
Postcard campaign
Together we are running a postcard campaign to MP Tariana Turia asking her to raise the status of disability workers. Ask your organiser or delegate for postcards!
Other news
Unions mark 'International Day of Persons with Disabilities'
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