Summing up the mood of workers at a rally and march held in Wellington during the walkout, Judy McFadyen said in an interview that she was on strike because “I think we are worth more than 2 percent.”

The strikers are employed by Presbyterian Support Central (PSC). Half the workers at PSC rest homes belong to either the Service and Food Workers Union (SFWU) or the New Zealand Nurses Organisation. For nine months now, the unions have been trying to negotiate a new contract. Prior to the strike an initial 5 percent pay claim by the unions had been reduced to 3.5 percent.

In Wellington, around 50 workers gathered outside the employer’s office with placards backing their demands. They marched through the downtown area handing out leaflets to passersby that explained why they were taking strike action. Petitions signed by workers, patients, and other supporters were delivered to PSC bosses, who came outside the organization’s office to receive them. They were greeted by the strikers chanting, “Give us what we deserve!”

For most workers at the Wellington protest this was their first strike. Union organizer Alastair Duncan said this was the first time there had been strike action against PSC in 15 years. While the employer has rest homes around the country, workers in other regions are on separate contracts. Duncan said it “draws heavily on public money” to fund its operations. The union leaflet distributed by the strikers explains, “The government has given our bosses a 6 percent funding increase but PSC is offering us just 2.25 percent.” The leaflet points out that most workers earn less than NZ$12 an hour (NZ$1 = $0.57).

Striker Nerald Davey said she was on strike because “I just thought they treated us really unfairly. We do all the work and they can’t even give us 5 percent.” She added, “we are on a low income anyway.” Davey explained that PSC had bought four more rest homes in the last year “with our money.”  
 
 
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