'Miserable' pay offer for Presbyterian Support workers.

The funding crisis in aged care is having a profound impact on workers in the sector. After two days of negotiations last month, nearly 300 NZNO members at Presbyterian Support (PS) sites in Southland, Otago and south Canterbury were offered a miserable 1.5 percent pay rise, with a possibility of more money at an unspecified later date. Presbyterian Support management said they would pass on the difference between any future funding they may get and the 1.5 percent offer, but any future funding is not guaranteed.

NZNO and the Service and Food Workers' Union (SFWU) claim was for a five percent pay increase for all staff; a five percent increase in allowances; an additional 20 percent on weekend and night shift rates; and improved leave provisions. The only offer from management was the paltry pay increase and no pay review until November next year. Presbyterian Support also wanted to introduce youth rates, reduce sick leave and bring in alcohol and drug testing.

Stop work meetings

Stopwork meetings to vote on the offer were to be hen this month. NZNO and SFWU delegates are intent on building membership density in the PS sites and raising the profile of the joint Fair Share for Aged Care Campaign. Another two days of negotiations are scheduled for early September.