Day 102 - Scoop - Carers NZ: Govt Needs To Fund Pay Equity For Care And Support Workers Now!

Carers NZ: Govt Needs To Fund Pay Equity For Care And Support Workers Now!

Sunday, 30 June 2024, 3:44 pm

Press Release: Public Service Association

Carers NZ is calling on Health Minister Shane Reti to fully fund a fair pay equity settlement for 65,000 care and support workers.

Carers NZ is the national peak body representing more than one million New Zealanders who care for friends and family who are frail, unwell or who have health conditions or disabilities.

A strong paid support workforce is essential. Without it, more pressures fall on already stressed family carers, says Carers NZ CEO Laurie Hilsgen.

Hilsgen is speaking out ahead of National Day of Action for Pay Equity rallies to be held around the country tomorrow (Monday 1 July, details below).

She says family caregiving, like the work of paid care and support workers, has been historically undervalued because it is work carried out predominantly by women.

"The care and support sector is heavily reliant on these undervalued workers who look after our loved ones - older people, disabled whānau, people experiencing mental health or addiction, and those recovering from illness or injury.

"It’s time the value of their work was fairly recognised in the pay equity settlement that has been in train for two years.

"It’s been proven that care and support workers are being paid less than their skills, experience, and level of responsibility warrant. All that is required to fix this inequality is for the Government to set aside funding from their Budget contingency."

Without a settlement, low pay and lack of recognition will see more workers leave a sector that is already struggling, making it harder for tens of thousands of New Zealanders to receive the care and support they need, placing even more pressure on over-burdened family carers.

Hilsgen says the wellbeing of family caregivers, whose mainly unpaid work has an annual economic benefit of $17.6 billion, is the lowest in Carers NZ’s 30-year history.

"During the pandemic they did more than ever, with less support than ever. Services were disrupted and there is an ongoing shortage of support workers. Family carers are exhausted - we need a strong support workforce that is fairly paid.

"I urge everyone who can to attend a rally in support of fixing a situation that affects hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders - those who need care and members of their family whānau and aiga."

Media contact: Laurie Hilsgen, Carers NZ CEO, 021 702 922 or info@carers.net.nz

Rally details:

Nationwide rallies Monday 1 July 2024

The rallies have been organised by the three care and support unions, E tū, PSA, and NZNO.

• Auckland: 2pm at Victoria Park, Auckland CBD.

• Hamilton: 1:30pm meet at PSA office - 489 Anglesea street.

• New Plymouth: 3pm at the new E tū office: 139 Powderham street, New Plymouth Central.

• Palmerston North: 12pm at The Square/Te Marae o Hine (next to The Verdict cafe).

• Wellington: 1:30pm at Heretaunga Boating Club, 138 The Esplanade, Petone.

• Nelson: 1:30pm meet at Nelson City Council - 110 Trafalgar Street.

• Christchurch: 1:30pm at Hornby Club, 17 Carmen Road, Hornby.

• Timaru: 1:30pm - corner of Wai-Iti Road and Evans Street.

• Dunedin: 12pm outside Median Mall, 285 George Street.

• Invercargill: 1:45pm meet at E tū office, 33 Don street.

Last Updated 02/07/2024

RESOURCES

• https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE2406/S00141/carers-nz-govt-needs-to-fund-pay-equity-for-care-and-support-workers-now.htm

• Carers NZ

• E tū

• PSA

• NZNO

Day 93 - Scoop - NZCTU Slams Govt Cutting Disabled Workers Wages As Disgraceful

NZCTU Slams Govt Cutting Disabled Workers Wages As Disgraceful

Press Release: NZCTU

Scoop: Thursday, 20 June 2024, 5:38 pm

The NZCTU is slamming a decision by the Government in Budget 2024 to cut a programme which ensured that disabled workers are paid the minimum wage.

“It is disgraceful that this Government is cutting the incomes of hundreds of workers with disabilities across Aotearoa New Zealand,” said NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff.

“The idea that any worker should be paid below the minimum wage, let alone as low as $2 per hour, is totally unacceptable.

“The Government was elected on a platform of supporting New Zealanders through the cost-of-living crisis, and yet with this change they are intentionally making life harder for disabled workers,” said Wagstaff.

“The previous Government’s decision to end the minimum wage exemption for disabled workers by paying employers a subsidy was a long-overdue decision,” said Nicole Wallace, convenor of Kaimahi Whaikaha, the NZCTU’s disabled workers sector group.

“That policy was the result of decades of advocacy by workers with disabilities, the union movement, and disabled people’s organisations. Workers with disabilities deserve to work with dignity.

“It is deeply disappointing that the new Government is reversing that policy and condemning many disabled workers to low wages.

“Workplace discrimination and lack of access to work are a significant contributor to high rates of poverty among people with disabilties. This decision will further increase poverty among disabled people,” said Wallace. 

New Zealand Council of Trade Unions

NZCTU - Te Kauae Kaimahi

The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi brings together over 350,000 New Zealand union members in 40 affiliated unions. We are the united voice for working people and their families in New Zealand.

Contact New Zealand Council of Trade Unions

• Website - union.org.nz

• Media Contact - communications@nzctu.org.nz

• Phone - +64 4 385 1334

• Facebook

• YouTube

• Twitter - @togetherunionnz

• Physical Address - Level 3, 79 Boulcott Street, Wellington.

• Postal Address - PO Box 6645, Marion Square, Wellington 6141

Last Updated 01/07/2024

RESOURCES

• 
  

Day 90 - Scoop - Disabled New Zealanders Must Have A Seat At The Cabinet Table

Disabled New Zealanders Must Have A Seat At The Cabinet Table

NZDSN: Monday, 17 June 2024, 11:06 am

Press Release: NZDSN

Politicians and parties were challenged to give disabled New Zealanders winnable positions on party lists, and seats at the cabinet table in the opening address of the New Zealand Disability Support Network national conference this morning. 

“Disabled people have put their names forward for several political parties over the years, but too often they’ve been placed in unwinnable party lists positions,” said NZDSN CEO Peter Reynolds.

“No matter how well-intentioned, how dedicated, and how well-briefed successive Ministers for Disability Issues have been, and many of them have made creditable progress in some areas, the fact there’s not a choice of capable disabled people vying to be Minister of Disability Issues is an indictment on how inclusive of disabled people this country truly is.”

Mojo Mathers and Tracy Martin were acknowledged for their trailblazing work in Parliament and since, but delegates heard that the current Parliament aren’t representative of the needs, aspirations and historic neglect of disabled people.

“This matters to providers, because when there is not a disabled person who is respected as an advocate in the disability community around the Cabinet table, it is too easy for the impact of underfunding and neglect not to be communicated with full authenticity when it matters.”

“A society should be judged on how it treats its most vulnerable, those who can’t speak for themselves. To truly feel heard and seen we need a seat at the table,” said Peter Reynolds.

Last Updated 17/06/2024

RESOURCES

• Scoop

• Disabled New Zealanders Must Have A Seat At The Cabinet Table

• New Zealand Disability Support Network

Media - Scoop

Scoop is a New Zealand Internet news site run by Scoop Media Limited, part of the Scoop Media Cartel.

Owner: Scoop Media Limited

Editor: Alastair Thompson

Commercial: Yes

Launched: 1999; 25 years ago

Submissions: Press releases may be emailed to Scoop

Instructions: https://www.scoop.co.nz/about/submit.html

RESOURCES

• www.scoop.co.nz

• List of articles and programmes about the cuts

• Wikipedia

Day 3 - Scoop - Opinion - Heartless Nats Take Cheap Shot At Disabled And Their Whānau

Heartless Nats Take Cheap Shot At Disabled And Their Whānau

Thursday, 21 March 2024, 12:17 pm

Opinion: Shary Bakker

On March 18, 2024, I was woken early by two of my primary school-aged autistic children. One, still toilet training, needed a nappy change. She flipped on the light, much to her brother’s groans and screams. Thus, the day begun.

As we made our way out of the bedroom, I could hear my autistic teen bouncing on our trampoline. She was wearing her noise cancelling headphones I paid for using government disability funding. It’s her way of calming herself. Before we had a trampoline, similarly funded, my daughter engaged in frequent self-harming, smashing things, crying and ripping curtains as she tried desperately to regulate her emotions and the sensory overload in her nervous system.

At 11:52 a.m., a friend texted: “OMG! Have you seen the changes they’re making to the disability funding?” There was a crying emoji.

I frantically searched for information. Finally, I found a social media post linked to Whaikaha’s changes to purchasing rules and equipment modification services. My heart sank. I don’t know which feeling was stronger: anger or devastation. With Whaikaha’s changes, my three autistic children and the entire disability community has been abandoned.

The change to disability funding, made without consultation or notice, is now an inflexible, one size fits all approach.

The disability community had fought for years for flexible funding, ultimately winning some concessions. Unlike this announcement from Whaikaha, the changes didn’t happen overnight. The flexibility came with restrictions, including proof that purchases or services met four criteria. It was not an open chequebook, as Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds implies.

I am a teacher but cannot work full-time due to my children’s disabilities with the resulting loss of income. My husband is required to work from home.

My children used to have a carer so my husband and I could have respite. She quit more than a year ago and we have been unable to find a replacement. While we could no longer take a break from the kids, at least flexible funding allowed us to buy items such as timers for transitions, compression singlets and weighted blankets, all of which comfort the kids and calm the household.

We purchased wiggle carts, which meet our kids’ balance needs. Flexible funding allowed swim lessons in smaller groups, crucial because of the children’s communication difficulties.

Our flexible Individualised Funding has been life changing by lessening the isolation of parenting autistic children. More importantly, it helped our children thrive.

Whaikaha’s sudden changes have destroyed the progress we’ve made.

I am now unsure if I can continue even my part-time teaching. Will I have to go on the benefit? I am not sure yet.

My children’s thriving can only be good for New Zealand’s future. Forcing the vulnerable to struggle cannot bring benefit to the nation.

Do we want a New Zealand where everyone thrives? It seems this current government doesn’t. 

Bio: Shary Bakker is a teacher living in Ōtautahi. She is a mother of four children, three of whom have autism among other disabilities. In her limited spare time, she enjoys watercolour painting and serving on the board of a local community group.