Pay woes affect cleaners and caretakers too

14 November 2012
Pay woes affect cleaners and caretakers too

It’s not only teachers’ pay that has been plagued with problems since the Ministry of Education’s $30 million Novopay system was introduced in August, the Service and Food Workers Union said today.

SFWU Industry Leader, Jill Ovens, said cleaners and caretakers all over the country were also out of pocket and the union was being swamped with calls from unhappy members.

“Some of our members are over $1000 out of pocket,” said Jill Ovens. “These are low-paid workers who are already really struggling.

“Pay rises have not been actioned, holiday pay is missing and frustrated cleaners and caretakers are fed up and frantic about facing Christmas with even less than usual.”

Jill Ovens said the Union was calling on the Education Minister Hekia Parata to front up and get it sorted.

“Hekia Parata needs to take control. She can’t sit by any longer and watch as the Novopay debacle drifts on and on with no end in sight,” she said.

Jill Ovens said the SFWU welcomes and supports Labour Education Spokesperson Nanaia Mahuta’s call for a select committee inquiry.

“John Key has acknowledged that people rely on their wages to pay their bills, but is just blaming the provider,” she said.

“This is typical of Key’s dismissive attitude towards working people. Our hard-working members budget from payday to payday and are at their wits end. It’s gone on too long and with Christmas pays coming up next month it needs to be fixed!”

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