14 October 2009
For immediate release
 
Hospital Workers to protest over wage freeze
 
More than 2700 hospital workers at 35 public hospitals from Kaitaia to Invercargill are holding a Day of Action with pickets outside the hospitals on Friday, 16 October.
 
The workers, who are members of the Service and Food Workers Union Nga Ringa Tota, are angry they are not being offered a pay rise this year.
 
Jill Ovens, SFWU Northern Regional Secretary, said the Union had been trying to negotiate a pay increase for months, but the District Health Boards and contractors had offered zero per cent.
 
 “This is wage freeze is coming directly from the National Government. The DHBs are saying they are not allowed to increase any wage rates or allowances in the public health system this year without sign-off from a Joint Ministerial Committee that includes the Minister of Finance, Bill English,” she said.
 
“This is unprecedented interference by the Government in wage negotiations with DHBs, supposedly independent bodies.”
 
Ms Ovens said the previous Labour Government set aside a funding increase of 3.119% for the DHBs as future funding for this year, but the DHBs had offered our members nothing that would result in any cost increase.
 
 “The Minister of Finance has indicated that this wage freeze could go on for as long as five years. This is coming from a man who earns $250,000 a year, which means he has no idea how anyone can live on $14.62 an hour.”
 
Ms Ovens said SFWU members were the workers who helped keep our hospitals running. For example, cleaners are essential in infection control and cooks prepare healthy food which is important to patient recovery.
 
“They are a vital part of the healthcare team, and deserve to be treated fairly. The cost of living is going up and yet their wages are not.”
 
On Friday, members will be picketing outside hospitals across New Zealand, before holding meetings to vote on further industrial action.
 
ENDS
 

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