Maori Party Supports Pay Parity Petition from Maori and Iwi Primary Health Care Workers

Tariana Turia, Health spokesperson, Maori Party

Friday 21 December 2007

Maori Party health spokesperson, Tariana Turia, has spoken out in support of the pay parity petition launched by Maori and iwi primary health care workers.

“There is a huge danger that this critical Maori workforce will be lost because the Maori and iwi primary health care sector cannot compete with the wages of mainstream” said Mrs Turia.

“The Government is undermining the not-for-profit sector by denying them the funding they need to pay staff properly”

“We should be celebrating the unique historical precedent established with the NZ Nurses Organisation negotiating a Multi-Employer Collective Agreement (MECA) with sixty Maori and iwi primary health providers” said Mrs Turia.

“Instead the Government is starving this workforce of the vital funding it needs to achieve pay parity with public hospital pay rates”.

“Improving health outcomes for Maori has to mean something more than an election slogan” said Mrs Turia.

“Our people – and this highly skilled workforce – need to be properly recognised for the essential role they play”.

ENDS

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