Care and support workers rally outside Jacinda Ardern’s Auckland office in nationwide protest for better pay – Newshub

Posted: May 25, 2022 at 4:45 am

Rallies have been held across the country on Monday to put pressure on the Government for better pay for care and support workers - including outside the Prime Minister's Mt Albert office.

Many of the 65,000 workers across the country are earning little over the minimum wage and staff retention and recruitment are getting impossible - especially as Australia beckons with better pay and working conditions.

They chanted and rallied for more pay. Low wages and workforce shortages are pushing many care and support workers to breaking point.

What looked like 100 care workers stood across the road from Jacinda Ardern's office behind a long barrier made out of road cones.

An E t union spokesperson told Newshub the decision for holding the rally outside the Prime Minister's office was because she is the highest decision-maker.

Mental Health support worker Christie Cox said the sector is running on a "baseline of burnout and emotional exhaustion".

Public Service Association's Tracie Palmer said better pay needs to come now.

"We're hearing that people are borrowing money to get petrol in their car, to go to work, we need to pay these people properly."

They're a team of 65,000 looking after some of the highest-needs in the country - those dealing with addiction, old age, mental health, disabilities and patients on palliative care.

They are the worst-paid sector working in health and their pay rates, set by law, are about to expire.

They want a $7 increase per hour, but the Government has offered 70 cents.

"It's shocking, it's not even half of inflation and it's not enough to keep us in the jobs that we love," Cox added.

Many of those who rallied in Wellington today share the same disappointment.

"It just guts me, there is nothing more important than this work," one said.

"The bottom rate is now lower than the living wage, bear in mind many of these workers are part-time, it's largely women," another told Newshub.

There are fears if the pay doesn't increase sufficiently, many will leave the sector or travel abroad. Some employers already have a 20 percent vacancy rate.

"Passion does not pay my bills. I love my job with everything that I have but it doesn't afford me the ability to care for myself," Cox said.

The sector said they're running out of time to keep and recruit staff to look after some of this country's most vulnerable.

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Care and support workers rally outside Jacinda Ardern's Auckland office in nationwide protest for better pay - Newshub

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