Health Workers Support Clinical Psychologists

Tuesday 17 May 2005

Canty Health Workers Support Clinical Psychologists

“About 100 Canterbury health workers rallied at lunchtime today outside the Labour Party Christchurch office in support of Clinical Psychologists working for the Capital Coast and Hutt Valley District Health Boards who have been threatened with 40% pay cuts for undertaking low level industrial action,” said Nadine Marshall, Secretary of the National Union of Public Employees (NUPE) today.

“Canterbury NUPE health workers ‘put their bodies on the line’ by forming a 30% sign so the message was really clear to the Labour Government ahead of Thursday’s budget,” said Nadine Marshall.

“NUPE is claiming a 30% catch-up for around 700 Canterbury health workers covered by the Union at Burwood, Christchurch, Hillmorton and Princess Margaret Hospitals, as well as NGOs like Brackenridge Estate,” said Nadine Marshall. “Workers at the rally expressed their strong support for the Wellington Clinical Psychologists who are also negotiating for catch-up pay increases in line with Doctors and Nurses. They condemned the Boards for taking such a disproportionate response by docking pay 40%.”

“Having the rally outside the Labour Party office however makes it clear that our dispute is with the Government rather than the Health Boards,” said Nadine Marshall. “Thursday’s budget needs to put the funds in to pay the 30% catch-up for all health workers. The $6b Government surplus only keeps on rising because health and other state sector workers are so underpaid.”

ENDS

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