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Oranga Tamariki union workers voted “overwhelmingly” to strike in protest against low wages. (File photo)
Oranga Tamariki government department union workers go on strike to protest low wages and unsafe workload the Association for Public Services (PSA).
Union members of the PSA voted Wednesday to reject a “disappointing” government wage offer, which the union said would have seen wages slide in the face of inflation.
Organizer Joe McCrory said there was an “elephant in the room” in Oranga Tamariki in the form of “rising vacancies” and a not recruiting new staff.
“Tamariki, rangatahi and whānau will miss out on the vital support they need if we continue to lose staff and struggle with persistent vacancies. It is unacceptable to ask staff now to make a real cut in their wages.”
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Staff will go on strike on Friday, October 28, Friday, November 4, Thursday, November 10 and Friday, November 18 between 3-5pm, unless requirements are met.
JOHN BISSET/Things
Oranga Tamariki staff across the country will go on strike in October and November.
PSA Covenant Helen Foley said staff were open to resolving the dispute but management should offer fairer pay.
“The current cost of living crisis makes existing staff recruitment and retention issues even more difficult to manage.
“We don’t take this action lightly. But we know the work we do is important.”
Minister of Children Kelvin Davis said he expected both sides to work constructively together to resolve the situation and avoid disruption to services.
CHRISTEL YARDLEY/STUFF
Malachi Subecz’s family speaks after the conviction of his killer. The family hopes that legislative changes will follow the ongoing investigation so that “Malachi’s voice has been heard”. (This video was first published on June 30, 2022.)
In the meantime, the Ombudsman reprimanded Oranga Tamariki on Wednesday for a “litany of failures” in handling the case of Malachi Subecz in the months leading up to his murder.
Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier said OT did not take the ‘absolute minimum’ due to safety concerns for the then four-year-old Malachi raised by his family.
Concerns about suspected abuse, medical neglect and possible harm were reported in June 2021, but nothing was done about it.
This included failing to report suspected abuse to the police after the OT family provided a photo of a bruised eye.