Industrial action looms for undervalued PACT workers

22 September 2011

Industrial action looms for undervalued PACT workers

Members of the Service and Food Workers Union Ngā Ringa Tota and the PSA employed by community mental health provider PACT have voted to take industrial action to shift their employer from a 1% pay offer.

SFWU organiser Ann Galloway said union members in Dunedin and the West Coast voted this week and PSA members in Invercargill voted to endorse industrial action last week.

“Our members are feeling undervalued and frustrated by their employer,” said Ann Galloway.

“This is not a decision they take lightly, but PACT has left them with no option and they are strongly united around their vote to take action. Doing nothing is not an option.”

Ann Galloway said members had voted to take escalating industrial action, starting with a paperwork ban and moving to full scale industrial action if PACT management does not return with an acceptable offer.

Union delegates will meet in Dunedin and the West Coast next week to plan exactly what industrial action will take place and when that action will occur.

“Our members work with some of the most vulnerable people in the community,” said Ann Galloway. “They love their work and just want to get on with the business of providing support for people with mental health issues needing that support around the clock. But management is simply not valuing their contribution and a 1% pay rise is not good enough.”

Ann Galloway said members sought a pay rise recognising the 5.3% cost of living increase.

“Our members are willing to negotiate but there has been no negotiation from PACT, even though the employer has made it clear they can afford to pay more,” she said.

Ann Galloway said members knew the wider community was strongly supportive of their work and they would accompany their industrial action with a strong community campaign to demonstrate to PACT how much support community mental health workers have.

“The work is hard and the work is demanding. Our members want respect for their contribution and that is what this dispute is all about,” she said.

ENDS

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