Timaru staff join IHC action

Nearly 100 community support workers in Timaru will join nationwide industrial action by banning "sleepovers" for 24 hours.

On Monday, about 3000 workers employed by the largest provider of services to people with intellectual disability, IHC, will leave their workplaces – group homes housing up to five people – from 10pm until 7am the next morning, instead of sleeping over.

In Timaru, more than 60 service users will be affected by the ban, which has been added to current bans on overtime, non-essential paper work and driving personal vehicles on IHC business.

The Service and Food Workers Union has been negotiating with IHC since October for a 2 per cent pay increase. IHC is offering a 12-month pay freeze.

Union national secretary John Ryall said the decision to ban sleepovers for 24 hours was not taken lightly, but after five months of negotiating it was an attempt to bring IHC "to its senses" and make it realise the welfare of its frontline staff was critical to the support provided for its clients.

"IHC have received a 2 per cent Ministry of Health funding increase from July 1, 2009, but are refusing to pass any of it on to their frontline staff. Their priorities need to change quickly if the escalation of action is to be avoided," Mr Ryall said.

IHC communications manager Philippa Sellens said the ministry increase was for residential services, not the whole organisation. It equated to a 1.2 per cent increase across the board, but that did not cover increases IHC had to pay for KiwiSaver and ACC, as well as other housing costs, she said.

"There's simply nothing left for our staff. Our top priority is to keep staff employed."

The union gave a month's notice of the action so that IHC could make alternative arrangements for the support of people in their residences.

Ms Sellens said workers who were willing to work would be rostered on during the ban.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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Jan Smith   #1   11:42 am Mar 26 2010

I am really surprised at the comment of Philippa Sellens regarding the "top priority" was to keep workers employed. How things have changed, I would have thought the Top Priority would have been the Health and Safety of the people that IHC are caretakers to support. As a worker in this field for over 30 years and now in the USA doing the same work it concerns me that IHC are still having these financial issues. Maybe cuts could be made on the leasing of less palatial buildings for executives etc.

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