Join the union campaign to raise the pay and status of disability support work

 

Residential and home-support services are characterised by low pay, inadequate training and lack of recognition for skills and experience.

 

Members of the PSA and Service and Food Workers Union are planning to make a difference through a nationwide campaign for decent pay and recognition of qualifications and experience.

Show your support for the campaign for decent pay, decent work, decent lives.


“We feel that the people who are of utmost importance to our family members are hands-on support workers who care for them daily. They need to receive appropriate training [and] be adequately paid.”
Lena Berger, Consumer Consortium representative

“We are your staunch supporters for improved recognition, pay and working conditions.”
Paul Manning, NZ Carers Alliance representative

 

Latest News

To coincide with International Disability Day on 3 December the PSA, together with the SFWU, has released a paper outlining the case for better wages and conditions for disability support workers. Download or read it here.

On November 27 low paid workers from around New Zealand marched in protest at the Government's wage freeze. Disability support workers were well represented on the marches. Below PSA organiser Kerry Davies explains to a TV3 reporter why disability support workers are so upset by the Government's stance.

Disability support workers awareness week

The PSA and the Service and Food Workers Union are working together to raise awareness of the work done by disability support workers. Every day more than 110,000 disabled New Zealanders rely on disability support workers for   medical support, meals, personal care and help the home.

Disability Support Worker Awareness Week runs from Monday August 10 to Sunday August 16, and a range of activities have been organised to mark the week. 

Listen to Radio New Zealand's One in Five programme on the issue of disability support workers

Below, two disability support workers talks about their work:

 

Disability workers win legal battle

Disability support workers are celebrating an historic legal victory in their battle to be paid at least the minimum wage for providing round-the-clock support for people with disabilities.The Employment Court case brought by the PSA and the Service & Food Workers union will boost the pay of at least 15,000 workers. See the TVNZ coverage here. Read the Otago Daily Times story here.

 

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Download these campaign resources:

 

1.   Disability Support Work Job Evaluation
The job evaluation commissioned in 2007 proved that rates of pay are too low and do not reflect the demands of the jobs and the skills and knowledge required.

2.     Disability Services Workforce: Strategy and Action Plan
The job evaluation commissioned in 2007 proved that rates of pay are too low and do not reflect the demands of the jobs and the skills and knowledge required.

3.   PSA Journal article
New Zealand has a fine vision for the care and support of those with disabilities. But what’s it worth when support workers are paid a pittance and can’t even get proper training.

4.    The Long Road to Fair Pay
Tracks progress and setbacks for women’s pay, from 1919 to 2009.

5.    Fair Funding for Decent Pay
A summary of the multi-pronged union campaign for a decent funding regime that ensures workers can be paid fairly.

6.    Where the funding comes from
The complexities of the funding system contribute to low pay and lack of training.