PRESS RELEASE
19 October 2005
Strikes against Presbyterian Support Rest Homes unreasonable
Union-led strikes in Presbyterian Support-run rest homes are premature and unreasonable.
HealthCare Providers NZ said today that private rest home providers don’t know how much money they have until District
Health Boards’ pass on the $71 million they received from the Government in this year’s Budget.
“We are in the middle of negotiations with DHBs to pass on the Budget funding. DHBs have made no offer and won’t make
any offer until the Minister is happy with what they are going to provide to us,” said HealthCare Providers Chief
Executive Martin Taylor.
“Providers have had to put up with years of underfunding and are operating on ever-decreasing margins. They cannot
afford to pay more.”
He added that the New Zealand Nurses’ Organisation, which is pushing for the strike action, have acknowledged this. “The
strikes taking place in the sector are completely unreasonable because they know this funding hasn’t gone to providers.”
“The unions should be focused on getting the Government to fund nurse and caregiver wages in the private sector at NZNO
MECA rates. Until this happens, industrial action in the sector is only going to get worse because aged care providers
are not funded at the appropriate level to satisfy union demands”, Mr Taylor said.
ENDS