MEDIA RELEASE: SERVICE AND FOOD WORKERS UNION NGA RINGA TOTA

15 July 2014

Time to deliver on aged care promises

The Service and Food Workers Union has called on Prime Minister John Key to deliver on his promise to address chronic underfunding and poverty pay rates in the aged care sector when his Government “gets into surplus”.

“In May 2012 the Human Rights Commission released a damning report on aged care which referred to caregivers as “modern day slave labour”. John Key said his government could not afford to do anything about it until it was in surplus,” said Alastair Duncan, SFWU’s aged care spokesperson.

“Now the Government’s books are back in surplus and it’s time to deliver on the promises. Thousands of caregivers, and elderly rest home residents and their families are waiting for National’s announcement of their intention to fix this shameful issue.”

Alastair Duncan said SFWU applauded New Zealand First’s commitment, announced today, to supporting pay parity for rest home caregivers with caregivers in DHBs.

“We call on all political parties to commit to delivering pay parity as a top priority and on the Prime Minister to make good on his promise,” he said.

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