Idea Services staff get 4.5% pay increase
Over 3000 disability support workers employed by Idea Services have ratified a new Collective Employment Agreement which
gives them an average payrise of 4.5%.
"Although we welcome the settlement of this collective agreement, we recognise that the bigger struggle for pay parity
with equivalent workers employed by District Health boards is still ahead" said John Ryall, National Secretary of the
Service and Food Workers Union Nga Ringa Tota.
DHB healthcare and therapy assistants have a starting pay rate that is at least $1.00 an hour higher than the new Idea
Services rate of $14.20/hour and their pay scales mean a gap of over $2.00 an hour emerges after two years service.
The Union believes that this undervaluing of disability support workers is the responsibility of the Government and its
funding agency, the Ministry of Health, who have the power to fix the problem.
"All New Zealanders accept that people with disabilities should be given adequate support to live an ordinary life, but
don't realise that this support is subsidised by very low pay rates" said John Ryall.
ENDS