Successful action at presbyterian support sites.

PRIOR To Christmas, a long-running dispute over wage and conditions at Presbyterian Support Central (PSC) was successfully resolved. The negotiations involved more than 300 NZNO and Service and Food Workers' Union members, spread over 15 PSC sites in the lower North Island. The dispute necessitated industrial action and a rally to Parliament, before meditation assistance and a "modified form of final offer arbitration" resulted in a settlement.

The final settlement included:

* six months' backpay to July 7, 2003;

* a 2.25 percent wage increase for all union members (except registered nurses who received 11 percent);

* a further one percent to be paid in April 2004;

* $400 to union members already on the top of the scale;

* an increase in public holiday rates from time and a quarter to time and a half;

* an increase in the night rate by $1 an hour; and

* better consultation rights.

While this settlement fell short of our claims, the shortened term enables us to start new negotiations in September 2004.

Reflecting on the campaign, it highlights the importance of good communication, networks at workplace and community level, as well improving the rates of union membership before beginning negotiations.

During these negotiations, workplace delegates worked tirelessly within and across PSC worksites to maintain good communication. They maintained a sense of unity t during an at times difficult campaign. It was particularly difficult when industrial action and other community activities were required to force an improvement in the employer's offers and when offers to non-members could have undermined members' focus on negotiations.

This year, PSC delegates look forward to new negotiations and will be focusing on increasing union membership within and across PSC workplaces. PSC members are also committed to working more broadly with other members in aged-care workplaces to lobby government for improvements in industrial legislation and in the allocation of aged care funding.