More than 1200 home support workers are being left to
worry about their jobs and their futures after Health New
Zealand’s decision to cut contracts held by Visionwest,
Lifewise and Presbyterian Support Northern in
Auckland.
The PSA is calling on Health New Zealand to
transfer their jobs to the new providers on the same terms
and conditions.
“Health New Zealand must guarantee
that every one of these workers, both frontline carers and
the nurses and coordinators who support them, transfers to
whoever takes over these contracts, on the same pay, terms
and conditions,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, PSA National
Secretary. “We will not hesitate to take legal action to
ensure that this occurs.
“Right now these workers are
extremely worried about their futures and Health New Zealand
owes them an explanation and reassurance.”
The group
which lost the contracts is made up of not-for-profit
providers Visionwest, Lifewise and Presbyterian Support
Northern. They recently made a collective bid for Health New
Zealand contracts to continue providing home and community
support services across Auckland, Counties Manukau and
Waitematā.
The organisations have each been providing
home-based services to people who live alone, and currently
support about 4500 older and disabled people in the region
to live in their own homes.
“These workers have built
special, trusted relationships with the older and disabled
people they support, often over many years. Taking that away
puts continuity of care, and the wellbeing of thousands of
vulnerable New Zealanders, directly at risk.
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“Health
NZ says continuity of care is its priority. If that’s true,
protecting the workforce that provides it is critical. The
PSA calls on Health NZ to do the right thing by workers and
the people they care for and comply with the clear
provisions of Part 6A of the Employment Relations Act. We
will not shy away from taking legal action to protect the
interests of workers.”
About PSA:
The Public Service
Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa
New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and
supporting more than 95,000 workers across central
government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health
boards and community
groups.
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