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David Hallett / Things
Support workers were tired of being taken for granted, said PSA director Kerry Davies. (File photo)
Legal action is being taken against a major employer of home support workers for alleged labor violations, including alleged failure to pay staff or failure to grant them breaks.
On Thursday, the Public Service Association said it had brought legal action against Access Community Health for multiple breaches of its collective bargaining agreement with staff.
Kerry Davies, the association’s national secretary, said Access Community Health had failed to provide support workers a regular and guaranteed schedule, failed to provide staff with 10-minute breaks, and failed to pay wages owed to them after clients canceled scheduled services.
But Access Community Health says it takes all of its responsibilities seriously, and Thursday was the first time it learned that legal action was taking place.
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“Our members are employed under a legally binding collective agreement with Access Community Health, and this agreement means they have rights. We do not intend to allow anyone to deny our members their rights at work, ”said Kerry Davies.
“These are front-line health workers who provide vital service to elderly, sick and disabled New Zealanders.
JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON / THINGS
Kerry Davies says support workers should be properly paid and have adequate breaks. (File photo)
“Their employer must pay them appropriately, allocate the right amount of hours, and make sure they get 10-minute breaks throughout their strenuous workday. Our legal action is to make sure that happens. “
The association said union lawyers filed a Problem Statement with the Labor Relations Authority in Wellington on Wednesday.
The association sought legal determinations regarding issues, certainty of hours, and back wages with interest for underpaid members.
Davies said support workers are tired of being taken for granted.
But a spokesperson for Access Community Health, which employs more than 3,000 workers, said he took his responsibilities to all his colleagues “incredibly seriously.”
“[Including] ensure that all of our teams are able to work in a safe and supportive environment, and that they receive fair compensation.
“This is the first time we have heard of any legal action taking place and unfortunately the Public Service Association has not approached us at any time before hearing this through the media,” he said. the spokesperson.
The Public Service Association had co-launched a campaign supported by Gray Power and other health unions called ‘They deserve the best’, which seeks to highlight the injustices that support workers face, and calls on the government to fix the “home New Zealand’s Fragmented and Failed Support System “.
David Hallett / Things
Access Community Health says it was not aware that legal action was taking place and that it had not heard from the Public Utilities Association directly about the claims. (File photo)
“Some may assume that they will keep quiet and tolerate it because they know how much their customers need them, but those days are over,” Davies said.
“These workers deserve the same respect and dignity they give others.
“They deserve to have a decent and safe life with regular hours that you can budget and plan for your life. We intend to campaign strongly to achieve this and we are sure New Zealanders agree that these are just and modest expectations. “
The action comes as thousands of general practice nurses, reception staff and administration began striking Thursday for pay parity.
Primary health care members of the New Zealand Nurses Organization were holding demonstrations across the country on Thursday.
