Waikato support workers to hold further strikes over “poverty” wages

More than 200 specialist support workers at Community Living Limited will take more industrial action, after employers refused to make more than a miserly pay offer to union members.
Members of the PSA and E tū union will stage four one-hour strikes on June 9 and June 22.
After initially offering to increase workers’ hourly rate by just 9 cents an hour, Community Living increased its offer to 15 cents – but to be phased in over two years.

“Our members are angry at this offer from Community Living Limited, which they say will cement them into poverty wages,” PSA National Secretary Glenn Barclay says.

“These are not highly-paid workers – all are paid below the living wage.

“15 cents an hour extra won’t buy a block of cheese for full-time workers, and the terms they put on the offer make it worth less than the original offer.”

Union members will walk off the job for two one-hour strikes on 9 June and 22 June.
“This second round of stoppages shows just how frustrated our members are with Community Living’s refusal to listen to their concerns,” E tū Waikato organiser Iriaka Isaacs says.

“We continue to believe there is money to fund a better pay offer than this, particularly when our members do such demanding and crucial work.”

A two-hour walkout was held on 19 May, and around 100 people picketed the Community Living Limited offices in central Hamilton.